An International Student’s Path from RIT to the United Nations

Alethia Jimenez ’06 made her way to RIT from Mexico City, navigating a long trip in the middle of January. Once on campus, she found a welcoming community that quickly made RIT feel like home. The supportive and friendly community made her transition as an international student both smooth and welcoming.

“As an international student, I loved the support system RIT had for students whose native language wasn’t English. I appreciated the writing labs and resources that helped me improve my English and academic writing,” she recalls. She also admired RIT’s leadership in Deaf education and its commitment to inclusivity. “Learning American Sign Language and being part of a community that actively addresses communication barriers was incredibly inspiring.”

Originally an Economics major, Alethia soon realized she wanted to strengthen her foundation in science to complement her passion for data-driven problem-solving. “I had always loved math and statistics, so as an honors student, I took the opportunity to pursue a double major and joined the applied statistics program. RIT’s College of Science has such a strong reputation, offering interesting classes like design of experiments, quality control, and probability and statistics,” she recalls. She embraced the challenge of a double major in economics and statistics, preparing herself to use data to help solve global challenges.

Today, Alethia serves as a Senior Advisor on Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment with the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization based in Washington, DC. In her role, she helps uphold the organization’s zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment and exploitation while working to protect vulnerable communities. “My life in the United Nations started with my ability to understand and use data. My statistics background gave me an edge, allowing me to address world challenges through quantitative and qualitative analysis,” she explains.

One of her most impactful projects involved collecting data on sexual violence in public spaces, igniting her ongoing advocacy for gender equality and violence prevention. Over the past 16 years, Alethia has worked across various areas within the UN, including mine action, economic empowerment, poverty reduction, child protection, gender equality, and human rights. Most recently, she led the production of Unsilenced: Stories of Survival, Hope, and Activism, a newly launched mini-docuseries amplifying the voices of survivors and activists working toward a safer, more just world. “My statistics training gave me the tools to approach these challenges with the data and evidence needed,” she says.

Reflecting on her time at RIT, Alethia highlights the experiences that shaped her career. “Living in the International House residence hall introduced me to friends from all over the world, helping me understand the importance of building inclusive communities,” she says. That lesson has guided her work ever since. Her research collaboration with Dr. Bridget Gleeson from the Economics Department, which resulted in a published study on air pollution and unleaded gasoline in Mexico City, deepened her understanding of public policy and its real-world applications. She also credits inspiring faculty like Professor Emeritus David Farnsworth and Dr. James Marengo for their ability to make complex statistical concepts accessible. “Their patience and teaching helped me thrive both in the classroom and beyond,” she shares. “I also remember Dr. Bharat Bhole and his ability to explain game theory in an easy and comprehensible way.”

To students considering a career in statistics, Alethia offers heartfelt advice: "Not everyone loves statistics and math, but if you do, the possibilities are endless. Statistics can be applied in so many different fields, from healthcare to environmental science to business. My advice is to embrace the journey—enjoy learning, explore different applications, and think about how you can use your skills to make a positive impact on the world."