White House Event Highlights Career Impact During NSC Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration

“Don’t be afraid to jump at opportunities and push your own boundaries” is the advice that Nala Mitas, a senior public policy major with urban studies immersion, lives by now. After attending the National Security Council Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at the White House earlier this semester, she’s inspired by a freshly expanded view of possibilities for making a positive difference. 

Mitas was among a select group of Latino students from across the U.S. invited to meet and attend a panel discussion with representatives from the U.S. Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, International Relations, and Labor Affairs as part of the celebration. National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed from September 15 to October 15, honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The celebration began in 1968.

“It was really inspiring to make connections, stay in touch with your culture, and think about the impact you can make,” she said. “Now I’m thinking ‘Maybe I can work in D.C.’ or ‘Maybe I can work for a large nonprofit’.” 

Her passion lies in addressing food insecurity, and as part of her RIT studies, she’s completed field work at an organization in her home state of Michigan that supports families and individuals with food, clothing, shelter, and financial wellness tools. She’s also collaborated with RIT Public Policy Senior Lecturer Eunju Kang in research on the effects of extreme heat on vulnerable communities that are most impacted by climate change. 

“I want to give back and help my community,” she said, noting that she’s grateful for the help she received from the College of Liberal Arts Dean’s Office. To offset the expenses of traveling and lodging to attend the conference, she applied for and received funding from the COLA Student Travel Fund, one of several special scholarships and funds offered by the College to help students pursue experiences like study abroad, internships, and conference travel. 

Experiences such as these, commonly referred to as “high impact practices” by college success coaches, refine students’ career path focus, expose them to new perspectives, and help build networks and skills that will give them an edge in the job market. In fact, the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook Report consistently indicates that employers value leadership and extracurricular participation. Additionally, research in Higher Education shows that experiential learning opportunities, including conferences, correlate with higher employability rates post-graduation.

“We believe that real-world opportunities like these are a profound complement to what students learn in the classroom,” said College of Liberal Arts Dean Kelly Norris Martin. “We’re thrilled that we were able to support Nala in this and grateful to the donors whose generosity makes scholarships and funds like these possible.” 

Encouraged by her advisor and public policy professors, Mitas applied for the opportunity. “I took the chance, and I got an invitation!” she said. At the celebration, she connected with professionals working on food security issues at the national level, as well as other students equally driven to make an impact.

With her sights set on graduating in May 2025, Mitas is excited about the future and motivated to continue pursuing new opportunities. “If you don’t jump on new opportunities, you’ll miss what could have been. You just have to go for it,” she said.