Meet Neva Perez, a Student Ambassador here at WWU. Neva is about to graduate with a major in Public Health, and a minor in Communication Studies. As a Bellingham local, Neva immersed herself in the Western community early, and always envisioned herself attending WWU. Because of philanthropy at Western, she was able to pursue her higher education without stressing about her finances. Neva spends her time outside of class making a real difference, working at the Research Repro and Sexuality lab and leading the Planned Parenthood Generation Action club here at Western. 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neva-perez-804359232/

Why did you choose Western?
I chose Western because I grew up in Bellingham, immersed in the campus community and always envisioned myself going to school here. Because of my scholarships and financial aid, Western was accessible to me and I have been able to attend a university I love.

What do you like about Western?
I love the campus; all the beautiful art installations and surrounding greenery make it easy to be at school on long days and take a break when I need to. I most love the vibrant community, there are so many amazing people I’ve gotten to connect with and learn from, and many university groups, clubs, and events inspire me daily.

How is your student ambassador experience? What are your duties?
I have loved being a student ambassador, I get the opportunity to attend university events that are not accessible to most students and with that I’ve gotten to learn a lot about university publicity, philanthropy, and event planning. While my duties shift depending on the event, I am generally tasked with set up and take down of events, running check in stations, and during events I get to mingle and connect with University faculty, donors and alumni.

Which professors do you work with? What is your favorite class? If not in a declared major yet, what is your area of interest?
I work in a research lab with Dr. Mary Hunt; she has taught my favorite Public Health courses including Public Health Theory. Right now, my favorite class is COMM 225, Communication, Diversity and Controversy.

Are you the beneficiary of philanthropy at Western (scholarship, grant, travel experience, etc)? If so, how has that made a difference for you? If not, are any of your friends or classmates, and if so, what impact has it had on them?
Philanthropy has allowed me to get a higher education without stressing about finances, through scholarships and grants I’m able to get the most out of my college experience.

What would you like to say to someone who has made a gift to support Western students and programs?
Thank you! You make a world of difference in the individual lives of so many students, your money means more stress-free learning for students, expanded extracurricular opportunities, strengthened student engagement, and a collectively empowered campus.

What do you do when you aren’t in class?
I am the president of the Planned Parenthood Generation Action club on campus, I work in the RRAS (Research in Repro and Sexuality) lab, spend time with friends, and enjoy the beautiful nature that surrounds us!

Where is your happy place either on campus or in Bellingham?
Anywhere with a view of the water, I love to hangout on the beach, on the pier, or at the top of the arboretum tower admiring the ocean.

What are your professional dreams and goals? Where could you see yourself in five years?
My goal is to become a health educator, in five years I’ll ideally be facilitating a health education program or working at the DOH on curriculum and/or policy. Knowledge is power, my dream is to empower people with knowledge on their body and health.