In honor of Native American Heritage Month, CSUN Newsroom is amplifying American Indian alumni voices.
As part of the alumni series, CSUN Newsroom spoke with Yadira Torres ‘14 (Sociology), who learned she was part Native American during her time as a Matador.
Torres credited CSUN for helping her discover more about her heritage. With mixed heritage, Torres said, she identified as Black and Mexican. During her second year at CSUN, she enrolled in a Pan African Studies class where she completed a Family Tree project. It was there that she learned she also has roots in Cherokee and Blackfoot ancestry.
“This connection deepened my interest in the Native American community and history, so I enrolled in American Indian Studies 100,” Torres said. “That class sparked a journey that eventually led me to become deeply involved in the American Indian Student Association, where I served as president for my last two years at CSUN.”
Torres is now a director of customer success with HeyTutor, a company that provides tutors to school districts, students and parents.
“My career is incredibly important to me,” Torres said. “I’ve worked hard to establish myself within my company and continue to work hard every day. I’m proud of my accomplishments and I’m excited to keep moving forward.
“Our company provides tutoring services: in person, para-professionals, online, enterprise and HeyTutor at Home,” Torres continued. “I manage a team of customer success managers to ensure each district partner account is running smoothly.”
Torres shared advice for students who are unsure of what they want to do with their academic career.
“If you’re unsure of your major or career path, I still strongly encourage you to pursue higher education,” Torres said. “When I attended CSUN, I gained a clearer sense of direction by my second year. The opportunities for networking with peers, professors, university staff and internships were a huge benefit. While my major isn’t directly related to my current career, it taught me fundamental skills that are valuable across many fields: leading meetings, giving presentations, conducting research, staying organized and more.”
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