Diana Chavez

Diana is a senior from Los Angeles, California, double majoring in political science and environmental studies, with a minor in Latin American studies, on the pre-law track. On campus, she serves as president of Latinas Unidas, treasurer of the Tulane University Service Dog Training and Education Program (TUSTEP), a Newcomb scholar, and senior desk services coordinator for Housing and Residence Life. She is also a member of the professional fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi, with whom she plays intramural soccer, and has helped plan Tulane's Earth Day Festival. Additionally, Diana has served as a research assistant in the Political Science Department focused on energy policy and tax credits in the U.S.

In her free time, Diana enjoys reading, walking and training dogs through Zeus' Place and
TUSTEP, playing and watching soccer and exploring New Orleans with friends. She is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to be a mentor because older Posse Scholars helped her find her footing and build a sense of community when she arrived on campus as a first-year student. She is excited to pay that support forward by helping new scholars gain confidence and feel at home at Tulane.

Favorite Thing About TU: My favorite thing about Tulane, aside from its beautiful campus, is the incredible number of festivals both on and off campus. Whenever I talk to friends from other schools about experiences like Crawfest, Beignet Fest, Jazz Fest, Freret Fest, Treme Fest and so many others, they're amazed by how much there is to do. I feel very fortunate to be able to experience these events, especially because many of them are free or much more affordable than festivals in other parts of the country.

And, of course, there's Mardi Gras. I remember being determined during my first year to attend every single parade. Now, as a senior, I've figured out my favorites and learned plenty of tips along the way. I'm excited to share those recommendations with future scholars so they can make the most of one of New Orleans' most unique traditions.

Tips for Foundation Scholars: As cliché as it may sound, be your authentic self. Adjusting to a new school, a new city and a new community can be challenging, and you may feel pressure to change who you are or code switch to fit in. However, you don't need to do that. The right people will appreciate you for who you are.

Get involved in clubs, organizations and programs that genuinely interest you. Pursuing your passions will help you find like-minded people and build meaningful friendships and communities. Trust yourself, stay open to new experiences and remember that it takes time to find your place. You belong here.