�鶹��Ƶ

Alexa Nigriny ’28, a psychology and human service studies double major from Centreville, Virginia, connects people across campus through her work as a resident assistant and her involvement in several clubs and organizations.

On Friday, Oct. 9, three members of the �鶹��Ƶ community were recognized for their impact and dedication to �鶹��Ƶ and LGBTQIA communities at an awards ceremony during Homecoming & Reunion Weekend 2026.

The public health major is helping make everyone she interacts with feel comfortable, from the Mi Casa Living Learning Community floor to the Latinx-Hispanic Union.

A self-described “Texan American with a Mexican heart,” Assistant Professor of Journalism Israel Balderas says at the center of his sense of belonging at �鶹��Ƶ are his students.

�鶹��Ƶ is featuring a variety of photos every month to highlight the exceptional learning, work and activities of students, faculty and staff.

The sociology and public policy double major has found opportunities through Periclean Scholars mentorship and El Centro to explore her interests, build community and deepen her understanding of her Latino identity.

Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Student Health and Well-Being Jana Lynn Patterson's experience as a first-generation college student laid the foundation for her storied career in higher education.

This year’s “Floreciendo Juntos (Blooming Together)” theme centers on honoring identity, culture and well-being while bringing the �鶹��Ƶ community together through art, music, food and shared traditions.

The HEED Award is a prestigious honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to academic excellence, belonging and community-building across all levels of campus life.

The institutional repository will support a more centralized and accessible approach to preserving the university’s history, scholarship and teaching output. The system, �鶹��Ƶ Collect, officially launched on Aug. 14.