First-generation students make up about 70% of UHD’s student body, and Alejandra Perez, current MBA student and Program Coordinator of the Marilyn Davies College of Business, is certainly no exception.  

At the start of her academic journey, Perez had a challenging time deciding what path she wanted to take. After doing well in biology during high school, she started out as a biology major at the University of Houston, but soon realized the sciences were not for her. 

However, she wanted to pursue studies in a field that would allow her to be creative and analytical. While taking a brief hiatus from college, she searched for fields that would allow for both and discovered that public relations and marketing interested her the most. After taking introductory classes in business and marketing at Lone Star College Cy-Fair, she knew she had found her true path. 

When Perez attended UH, she was overwhelmed by the massive campus, large class sizes, and lack of individual student attention. After graduating with her associate’s degree, she sought an experience more like her time at LSC, so she transferred to UHD, noting its affordability, smaller class sizes, supportive faculty, and robust student community.  

Perez has a long history with the UHD community. While earning her bachelor’s degree, she worked for the Gator Success Center. She also worked for the Digital Communications team at MDCOB and was involved with the American Marketing Association (AMA) as Vice President. She was also the former president of the Animal Rescue Club.  

She graduated with her bachelor's degree in marketing in 2023 and is currently working on earning her MBA in Project Management and Process Improvement.  

Formerly the Records Specialist for the Dean’s Office, Perez now works as a Program Coordinator. Additionally, she travels to community colleges to promote UHD to prospective transfer students, helping to guide them through the enrollment process.  

“As a first-generation student myself, I understand how overwhelming it is, and I don’t mind answering any questions about enrollment,” she said.  

Perez holds the student success centers at both LSC and UHD as near and dear to her, as the start of her academic journey was an undertaking filled with trial and error. But thanks to a great deal of self-reflection and plenty of help from caring advisors, she was able to find the right path to grow into the hardworking, vibrant graduate student she is today.