Fall 2025 Inspiring Graduate | Veronica Lopez

Veronica Lopez has spent the last two years getting her master's degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies. Her area of focus was researching ways to support Chicano students and teachers in urban areas, and she did it all while working full time as a high school teacher in Chicago.

Lopez grew up in the suburbs of Illinois. After attaining her undergraduate degree, she felt inspired to look for a Latino studies program to learn more about her heritage and how to connect with students with a similar background.

"I grew up in a predominantly Mexican immigrant area, and I never experienced anything outside of that. Once I went to a predominantly white institution, it was a big culture shock," Lopez said. "I never had teachers that looked like me or taught anything that related to me culturally, so I think that inspired me to do all of this."

UNM's online master's program in Chicana and Chicano Studies was the perfect fit for Lopez because it gave her the flexibility to continue teaching her English classes. The program is relatively new, having started in 2022. Lopez said that while she never met her professors and her advisor in person, she felt seen and appreciated by them.

"They all come from the same background; they all look like me. They were so welcoming, especially once they learned I was a teacher," Lopez said. "It was nice forming real human connections."

She knew her first year of teaching would bring its own challenges, which were doubled when she decided to join the master's program at the same time.

"I remember crying on the first day of my first class. If I were a math teacher, all I'd have to worry about is grading exams. Because I teach English, I had to read and prep and grade papers on the weekends," Lopez said. "It took a lot of self-discipline and sacrifice."

Lopez said that despite the challenges, there were things she was able to implement in her classes based on what she was learning in her master's program. "When it came to doing research and working with the kids, I got to see the things I learned about having a hands-on application, not just as a theory," Lopez said.

Lopez is the first person in her family to pursue a college degree, which added to her challenges as she had to navigate higher education by herself.

"I knew if I put it off for later, I'd probably never do it. Plus, I don't have kids or anything like that right now, so this is the most time I'm probably going to have to do this," Lopez said.

As for the future, Lopez plans to one day be an adjunct professor or teach a Chicano studies class of some kind. But as of right now, she doesn't see herself leaving a high school classroom any time soon.

"I hope to expand other avenues of teaching Chicano studies because that's what I'm really passionate about," Lopez said.

Lopez is currently working on a proposal for the school she teaches at to implement a Latino studies dual credit class. She hopes it will allow students to have a similar experience as she did in the Chicana and Chicano Studies program.

"I felt so welcomed by people who I've never met, who don't know me, and they made this journey so worthwhile," Lopez said.