Why I: Missy Dominguez

The NASPA Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community is showcasing the LKC leadership team and members in this series that we call, "Why I." We want to share with our Latinx/a/o community who members of the LKC leadership team are, our roles, and what inspired us to follow our career paths. Our goal is to increase the visibility of not just th eLKC, but to the leaders who make the LKC what is to us all. For questions regarding the "Why I" series, please contact the Communication Co-Chairs, Leonel Diaz (ladiaz@unm.edu) and Rosa Hanco (hancor@stjohns.edu).

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Missy Dominguez is the Director of Student Life at New York Film Academy - Los Angeles. They currently serves as the Latinx Inclusion Chair.

Why did you join the LKC?

I was fortunate to be recognized as Outstanding New Professional coincidentally by both the Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community and the Gender & Sexuality Knowledge Community in the same year. Due to these awards, I was invited to apply to be their first Latinx Inclusion Chair, a new position promoting racial, gender, and sexual orientation intersectionality. I joined for the opportunity to expand my professional development, serve my favorite professional association, network with colleagues across the globe, and advocate for communities I'm passionate about.

Why did you choose your higher ed career path?

Without the student affairs professionals that guided me, I would not have thrived as much at my undergraduate institution. During my time of need, they invited me to work for Residential Life and thus helped me find housing. As a paraprofessional mentoring other students, I realized that I loved higher education and co-curricular involvement. I decided to go to graduate school to pursue a career in student affairs!

 

Share with us a fun fact. It can be silly, funny, random, or anything you want to make it.

I'm a Disney fanatic. I have a Disneyland Annual Pass and can share with you tons of trivia about various movies and the park. My favorite Disney films include Moana, The Nightmare Before Christmas, and The Pirates of the Caribbean!