
Letty Treviño
(she/her/hers/ella)
As a first-generation queer Latina immigrant, I’ve used my experiences as a decade-long university student to become a professional higher education navigator. What that means is that I've learned the ins-and-outs and behind-the-scenes of higher ed.
I use these navigation skills to help underrepresented and historically-excluded communities. Most of my academic and professional work has been guided by a firm commitment to the defense of human rights and, more specifically, a dedication to equitable and accessible education.
I was born in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, México but grew up in Houston, TX. As an immigrant from a low-income background, my family often fantasized about how we would live out our American dream. My parents instilled in me a great dedication and appreciation for learning. They always insisted that school was going to be the path to opportunity and success. And as the eldest of three daughters, I would pave the way for my younger siblings.
My upbringing led to a profound feeling of responsibility for others and a determination to succeed academically. I continuously worked hard throughout high school so that I would live out my success through higher education. I was both nervous and ecstatic when I got into Rice University.

I had a love-hate relationship with higher ed. I loved all of the learning and new information I was exposed to but I thoroughly felt like the university was not made for people like me. I was insecure about my place in the university and did not feel confident about my abilities. It consistently felt like everyone had access to a secret manual with cheat codes and how-to guides. It was when I was struggling most and thought about dropping out that I met professors that changed my life.
