Archer Fellowship Program Alumni Profiles
Crystal Saavedra
2013 Fall Archer Fellow
Internship: The White House, Office of Management and Administration
Education
The University of Texas at El Paso
B.B.A. Marketing, B.B.A. Human Resource Management; December 2014
Career
Chapter/Network Development Coordinator at the University of Texas at El Paso
2013 Fall Archer Fellow
Internship: The White House, Office of Management and Administration
Education
The University of Texas at El Paso
B.B.A. Marketing, B.B.A. Human Resource Management; December 2014
Career
Chapter/Network Development Coordinator at the University of Texas at El Paso
“It was the Archer Fellowship Program that formed my passion for higher education. Being a part of the program I learned a lot from my peers and educators that made me into the professional I am today. I also learned about many of the disadvantages peers back at home were facing. This ignited my fire to want to work for The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and make it my mission that no student felt as if they “couldn’t do it” or that leaving home to expand their knowledge was not for them."
Q & A with Crystal
Please tell us more about your current position.
As the current chapter and network development coordinator I am tasked with managing and overseeing all UTEP alumni groups nationwide. Oversight of these groups includes holding monthly conference calls and serving as the liaison between the group and the UTEP Alumni Association. One of my largest events is our annual Pick-Nic reunion which is held every summer. On this date over 25 cities around the country including Mexico and Bhutan hold Pick-Nic events all tailored to their city, where all UTEP alumni come together and celebrate with friends and family!
Please tell us more about your Archer Fellowship Program internship.
My internship was a once in a lifetime experience. Working in the White House almost seemed like a dream at times. My responsibilities included scheduling and coordinating West Wing tours for staff and Congressional constituents, and developing and performing trainings on proper protocol when requesting access into any executive office building (East and West Wing and EEOB). I was also tasked with organizing and executing the annual EEOB staff and family Halloween event which was particularly interesting as it came sixx days after the government had shut down. This event went on to be recognized by Chief of Staff Dennis McDonough as his favorite event of the entire year.
What has been your general career path?
My general career path has always been business driven. Once I graduated, I transitioned to some non-profit work but quickly transitioned back into corporate America, until I listened to my true calling which was in higher education. I always knew I wanted to work for a university and specifically UTEP. Once I was given the opportunity to come on board to my alma mater as a program coordinator, I embraced the opportunity to expand my knowledge and network. That experience led me to my current position as coordinator for chapters and networks for the entire UTEP alumni community.
How has your experience as an Archer Fellow influenced your career path and goals?
It was the Archer Fellowship Program that formed my passion for higher education. Being a part of the program I learned a lot from my peers and educators that made me into the professional I am today. I also learned about many of the disadvantages peers back at home were facing. This ignited my fire to want to work for The University of Texas at El Paso and make it my mission that no student felt as if they “couldn’t do it” or that leaving home to expand their knowledge was not for them. This has now translated into my role of alumni engagement upon graduation and providing them ways to give back to the current students.
What did you value the most about your Archer Fellowship Program experience?
What I value the most about my experience as an Archer Fellow is a lesson Dr. Swerdlow taught our class very early on in the program and that was to always "think outside of the box." This became the corner stone of everything I do within my life. I came into the program shy and timid but through the teachings, my internship and relationships I built, I came back an even stronger leader all because of that mentality instilled in me to always "think outside of the box." I was shown that it was OK to be different and to strive for your dreams.
What do you value the most about being an alumna?
Being an Archer Fellowship Program alum, I value the ability the Archer Center gives me to give back in any way possible to the program. Currently, I live in El Paso and I have been given the opportunity to serve the program as the El Paso Chapter Co-Chair. The support we receive from the Archer Center staff is great. I value that we as alumni have the ability to give back in ways such as serving on the Archer Fellowship Alumni Association board, as well as continue to become connected with incoming Archer Fellows by offering advice and insight to subjects such as fundraising and internship opportunities.
What is your favorite memory as an Archer Fellow?
My favorite memory would have to be the friendships and sense of family that was created among my cohort. Some of my best friends were formed in this program and most of which I still make a point to visit yearly to this day. The memory that sticks out in my mind is one of our last days in Washington, D.C., we had snow fall and we had just concluded a class at the Archer Center. We ran outside and decided to have a snowball fight amongst each other outside the gates of The White House without a care in the world.
Please tell us more about your current position.
As the current chapter and network development coordinator I am tasked with managing and overseeing all UTEP alumni groups nationwide. Oversight of these groups includes holding monthly conference calls and serving as the liaison between the group and the UTEP Alumni Association. One of my largest events is our annual Pick-Nic reunion which is held every summer. On this date over 25 cities around the country including Mexico and Bhutan hold Pick-Nic events all tailored to their city, where all UTEP alumni come together and celebrate with friends and family!
Please tell us more about your Archer Fellowship Program internship.
My internship was a once in a lifetime experience. Working in the White House almost seemed like a dream at times. My responsibilities included scheduling and coordinating West Wing tours for staff and Congressional constituents, and developing and performing trainings on proper protocol when requesting access into any executive office building (East and West Wing and EEOB). I was also tasked with organizing and executing the annual EEOB staff and family Halloween event which was particularly interesting as it came sixx days after the government had shut down. This event went on to be recognized by Chief of Staff Dennis McDonough as his favorite event of the entire year.
What has been your general career path?
My general career path has always been business driven. Once I graduated, I transitioned to some non-profit work but quickly transitioned back into corporate America, until I listened to my true calling which was in higher education. I always knew I wanted to work for a university and specifically UTEP. Once I was given the opportunity to come on board to my alma mater as a program coordinator, I embraced the opportunity to expand my knowledge and network. That experience led me to my current position as coordinator for chapters and networks for the entire UTEP alumni community.
How has your experience as an Archer Fellow influenced your career path and goals?
It was the Archer Fellowship Program that formed my passion for higher education. Being a part of the program I learned a lot from my peers and educators that made me into the professional I am today. I also learned about many of the disadvantages peers back at home were facing. This ignited my fire to want to work for The University of Texas at El Paso and make it my mission that no student felt as if they “couldn’t do it” or that leaving home to expand their knowledge was not for them. This has now translated into my role of alumni engagement upon graduation and providing them ways to give back to the current students.
What did you value the most about your Archer Fellowship Program experience?
What I value the most about my experience as an Archer Fellow is a lesson Dr. Swerdlow taught our class very early on in the program and that was to always "think outside of the box." This became the corner stone of everything I do within my life. I came into the program shy and timid but through the teachings, my internship and relationships I built, I came back an even stronger leader all because of that mentality instilled in me to always "think outside of the box." I was shown that it was OK to be different and to strive for your dreams.
What do you value the most about being an alumna?
Being an Archer Fellowship Program alum, I value the ability the Archer Center gives me to give back in any way possible to the program. Currently, I live in El Paso and I have been given the opportunity to serve the program as the El Paso Chapter Co-Chair. The support we receive from the Archer Center staff is great. I value that we as alumni have the ability to give back in ways such as serving on the Archer Fellowship Alumni Association board, as well as continue to become connected with incoming Archer Fellows by offering advice and insight to subjects such as fundraising and internship opportunities.
What is your favorite memory as an Archer Fellow?
My favorite memory would have to be the friendships and sense of family that was created among my cohort. Some of my best friends were formed in this program and most of which I still make a point to visit yearly to this day. The memory that sticks out in my mind is one of our last days in Washington, D.C., we had snow fall and we had just concluded a class at the Archer Center. We ran outside and decided to have a snowball fight amongst each other outside the gates of The White House without a care in the world.
