Global Connections

International Trinity alumna carved out her own space

by Jeremy Gerlach

At Trinity University, Sol Chiara Rivas Lopes ’23 found a place to stand out and a place to fit in.

As a Trinity undergraduate, Sol, who speaks four languages and has roots in Argentina and Brazil, took on triple majors in international studies, political science, and French and fought for human rights while studying abroad. Now as a young graduate, she’s pursuing a master’s degree in public policy.

“This is something that’s very ingrained in Trinity’s culture,” Sol says of her three majors. “You’re in an environment that really encourages the sort of intellectual pursuit that makes you stand out.”

As a first-year, Sol knew what she wanted to study—political science, international studies, languages, and literature—but had no idea how to combine these subjects into a path ahead.

So, Sol first took advantage of Trinity’s Pathways curriculum, which emphasizes hands-on learning, interdisciplinary discovery, and a well-rounded liberal arts approach.

“It seemed every semester that the themes of all my classes just meshed really well together,” she says. “Through our Pathways curriculum, I was able to explore other interests without necessarily giving up what I wanted to do primarily.”

Sol says she found herself excelling at writing papers for political science professor Peter O’Brien, Ph.D. Professor O’Brien then connected Sol to opportunities to present her research, study abroad, and advance her own interests.

“I think that’s something that happens very often at Trinity, where students might not have the insight or the knowledge to be able to find these internships or opportunities, but professors will see you, realize you’re a good fit, and connect you,” Sol says. “Trinity faculty really create those opportunities that will make you stand out and develop skills that are helpful not only in internships but also for getting into graduate school.”

Sol decided to study abroad in Strasbourg, France, where she also completed an internship with the Council of Europe, the continent’s leading human rights organization. Sol says, “Having an internship there really solidified public policy analysis as what I wanted to do with my life.”

In addition to faculty, Sol also found strength and support through cultural and social networks back home at Trinity. “Right from my first visit, I felt like I saw myself on campus. Trinity felt like a very welcoming community,” she says.

Sol built connections through organizations like the Trinity University Latino Association and enjoyed making friendships across various cultures and identities. “At Trinity, I think that everybody’s not only able to find their own space but also to choose their own space,” she says. “For someone who wasn’t used to … having a community that embraced me, I found that at Trinity.”

Sol’s currently enrolled in a Master of Public Policy program at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. And with fluency in four languages, an international internship, and multiple hard-earned ace research papers under her belt, Sol says she’s confident in taking this next step toward her future career.

And wherever she goes, she’s going to know that she belongs. “Trinity helped me carve out my space,” Sol says. “Trinity’s environment really fosters academic growth, personal growth, and professional growth in a way that’s just so very specific to Trinity. It’s kind of this ‘perfect mixture’ and ‘perfect condition’ of things that allowed me to grow in a way that I don’t think I would’ve elsewhere.”