Growing Through Education

Student leader and activist takes a hands-on approach to creating connections across cultures.

As a resident advisor (RA) for the International Living Learning Community at Syracuse University, Sofia de la Grana values sharing experiences, building relationships, exploring cultures and creating inclusive communities.

“Education is at the forefront of what I want to do,” says de la Grana, who’s majoring in public relations at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and in citizenship and civic engagement at the Maxwell School.

De la Grana grew up near Miami in a largely Hispanic community and earned a scholarship from the Posse Foundation that provided her with a support system that she considers invaluable. As an incoming student, she chose to live in the International Living Learning Community, which has provided her with the opportunity to get to know students from around the globe. “I really wanted to meet new students outside of my own little bubble,” she says. “I wanted to make these global connections, and I learned so much about different cultures.”

As an RA she gets to create programming and help other students continue to grow as she has. In addition, de la Grana served as a Newhouse peer advisor and a First-Year Experience class facilitator, engaging students in discussions about race, identity, equity and inclusion, and leading them in activities. “I’ve been learning so much about different people’s cultures and sharing conversations about my own,” she says. “I think creating relationships with people is such an important part of it.”

This summer, de la Grana joined the University’s Mary Ann Shaw Center for Public and Community Service as a public relations intern and she put her communication skills to work for Best Buddies International at Syracuse University, the local chapter of a global nonprofit dedicated to expanding opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She has been involved with research, advocacy and social media messaging, which includes supporting accessibility for voting and highlighting Black activists with disabilities as part of the Black Lives Matter movement.

De la Grana has many life goals—including working for the Peace Corps and teaching abroad—that would immerse her in new cultures and allow her to both teach students and learn from them. She wants first-year students to know there are opportunities for everyone on campus, and she encourages them to be patient, explore and not get overwhelmed. “There are so many resources and so much support. People are willing to help you grow and advocate for you to learn what you want to learn,” she says. “It’s been such an enriching experience. I just love my classes—I really do. I love learning.”