2024 Graduate Spotlight: Joaquin Guzman

Joaquin Guzman, a first-generation college student from Aurora, IL with roots in El Salvador and Mexico, attended Arrupe College, Loyola University Chicago’s innovative two-year degree program that ensures affordability and supports the whole person.

While at Arrupe, Joaquin’s passion for helping others was ignited by his experience as a math tutor. He found that he also had an interest in health, but at the time didn’t know how to integrate it with his Pre-STEM focused Liberal Arts associate degree – until his advisor introduced him to public health.

During his last semester at Arrupe, Joaquin took Introduction to Public Health in the Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health. “Not only was I exposed to what public health is,” Joaquin says, “I also learned what you can do in the field and experienced a great energy in the class.”

Joaquin was fortunate to receive the Gonzaga Scholarship which supports Arrupe College graduates pursuing health sciences and public health undergraduate degrees at Parkinson. Established in 2022, the scholarship covers tuition, fees, and living expenses.

The scholarship allowed Joaquin to pursue his bachelor’s in public health with a focus in epidemiology. He decided to pursue his BSPH/MPH when his Parkinson advisor told him about the 4+1 program and the opportunity to receive his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years.

During his time at Parkinson, Joaquin had many opportunities to apply what he was learning in the classroom. As a research assistant, he learned about analyzing data. At his internship with Chicago Public Schools, he learned about the other side of data, collecting it through surveys via telephone and email.

In addition, Joaquin says he’s learned to understand his strengths and what he needs to continue to work on during his time at Loyola. He says he enjoys teaching and hopes to pursue his PhD someday. “When I know someone has learned something, it feels great to me,” Joaquin says.

When asked about the support he’s received at Loyola, Joaquin says he knows how fortunate he is. “Because I didn’t need to worry about finances, I could focus on learning,” he says. He also appreciates the opportunity to live in the city and the strong relationships he built with his cohort, who he calls his social support.

Overall, Joaquin attributes his success to the people in Parkinson. “Everyone is so great,” Joaquin says. “The faculty, who have so much knowledge, and the staff are driven to help students succeed. They are truly amazing people. I’m glad to be a part of it.”