Student launches Latino professional organization for students of all backgrounds

The Association of Latino Professionals For America is the largest provider of professional resources for Latinos in the United States

Cate Zenzen | 07/16/2020

Thanks to the leadership of student Sebastian Salazar, a junior corporate finance and accounting major from Ecuador, the College of Business will launch the university’s first chapter of the student-led Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) this fall.

ALPFA is the nation’s leading professional Latino non-profit organization, with a mission to empower Latino men and women as leaders of character in the nation and in the global economy. 

Salazar, president and founder, worked with college officials this past spring and summer to charter the organization on campus and believes it will bring valuable resources and connections to all students at Lipscomb. 

Salazar came to Lipscomb as a student athlete on the men’s golf team. With dreams of working on Wall Street as an investment banker, Salazar appreciates the resources and mentors available to students within the Lipscomb University College of Business. 

“[At Lipscomb] There’s an ideal balance between a great athletic program and an excellent business school. I believe that Lipscomb has provided me some excellent networking opportunities for internships. That’s why, based on my success, I wanted to give back to people in hard circumstances and promote professionalism,” said Salazar.

Salazar learned about ALPFA from his brother who attends Purdue University. In fact, their cousin is the president of the chapter there. The association is the largest provider of professional resources for Latinos in the United States, and is sponsored by corporations and firms of the same renown. Salazar saw the opportunity as a great resource for his peers and a leadership challenge for himself. 

“Aside from providing and empowering a minority to build more leaders in every sector of the global economy, I believe it’s also about bringing professional culture to the school,” said Salazar. 

In March, Salazar and business college staff interviewed and selected students to serve on the executive board. These eight students, in both undergraduate and graduate programs, have met virtually throughout the summer to plan events for the coming school year including guest speakers, resume workshops and networking opportunities. While Nashville no longer has a professional ALPFA chapter, Salazar said they hope to work together with the Vanderbilt University chapter to host events for students across the city. 

Despite being a Latino-centered association, ALPFA is open to all students, no matter their ethnicity, major, or classification. The executive board hopes to host guest speakers that are professionals in a variety of industries, as networking and professionalism are valuable lessons for any student, regardless of major. 

“I think it’s really important for professionalism to promote diversity because I think one of the aspects of success is being open-minded and having different points of view, which comes from culture,” said Salazar. 

The organization is currently sponsored by the College of Business, with Julio Rivas, associate professor, as faculty advisor. Not only does the college have valuable resources to contribute, such as the Career Connection office, but Rivas himself is familiar with Hispanic organizations throughout the business world.

Salazar anticipates Rivas will be a valuable asset as a professor who not only proves his expertise and organization in the classroom, but also makes a point to have relationships with students. With such guidance, the student executive board can provide excellent resources, events and connections for their peers. 

“ALPFA is a great organization and our Lipscomb chapter is working very hard. We have the objective of giving students an opportunity to be involved with the Latin community. There are many opportunities that can be created, which can lead for future options of involvement and growth,” said Rivas. 

While the students have planned many events involving the Nashville community and the campus as a whole, Salazar ensures they are prepared for smaller or virtual gatherings if needed due to social distancing and safety guidelines. The executive board hopes to communicate meeting plans, and adaptations if needed, through emails and newsletters. 

Salazar encourages students to be on the look-out for ways they can get involved with ALPFA in the coming school year.

NOTE: Lipscomb University underscores that membership or participation in Association of Latino Professionals For America is not limited by race or ethnicity and is open to all students regardless of race or ethnicity despite its name.