From the president
Since her arrival at John Carroll University, Xiomara Iparraguirre has distinguished herself as a remarkable leader and advocate for social change both on and off campus. As a freshman, Xiomara joined JCU’s Latin American Student Association (LASA) as a Board Member and now serves as its President. In this role, Xiomara has spearheaded cultural events and other initiatives to deepen a sense of belonging on campus. She also facilitated a campus-wide immigration awareness week featuring speakers, art projects, film screenings, an immigration simulation, and advocacy projects. Xiomara’s dedication to advocacy is also seen in her outstanding leadership in Campus Ministry’s immersion programs. Xiomara served as Student Coordinator to El Salvador, where she guided her peers in learning about history and current issues while attending to risk management and group dynamics. Xiomara’s skills in facilitation and empathy have been refined in her role as Peer Resolution Facilitator through the JCU Dean of Students Office. In this role, she guides resolution processes of conduct violations utilizing restorative justice principles. Whether on an interpersonal, community, or global level, Xiomara’s capacity to bridge divides through understanding and education position her well for a career in public service.
Personal Statement
As a child, my grandmother’s fairy tales and life stories showed me the power of storytelling. Although I’m not a natural storyteller, I quickly learned the importance of retelling others’ stories and amplifying their messages. The challenge I’ve confronted is the broken systems that mute stories and the apathy faced when heard. So, I searched for opportunities to empower and bolster both stories and their storytellers. At John Carroll University, I found channels for my passion for advocacy. I began empowering storytellers through service opportunities such as tutoring English as a Second Language to immigrants and leading student leadership conferences. I became inspired to use my own voice. I led students on an immersion to El Salvador to do what sparked my passion for advocacy: learning from other cultures, understanding global struggles, and amplifying unheard voices once back in our community. When repression of minorities rose, my voice rose too. I rose to presidency in the Latin American Student Association, and used my leadership to restore Undocuweek– exploring immigration injustices– after its sponsor was cut. My goal isn’t just to advocate but to inspire others to find their passion in advocacy, discover what issues move them, and become better advocates.