Making his dream school a reality

By Kyle Hobstetter, Nick Sibol & Henry Basta on September 20, 2023

Towson University was always the goal for Juan Jose Cortez II. It just took him a bit to get here.

Cortez spent eight years getting his associate degree, taking classes at various community colleges while working full-time.

Now at 34-years-old, Cortez will graduate this fall with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the languages, literatures and cultures program.

He is the youngest of five boys and both a first-generation college student and a first-generation American. His parents, father Juan and mother Nomey, are originally from El Salvador.

While his parents didn’t finish elementary school while in El Salvador, they knew the importance of education. That’s why it will be such a big deal this fall, when he becomes the first in his family to earn a college degree.

“This is going to be one of the biggest accomplishments of my life because it’s been a long journey,” Cortez says. “It’s a culmination of hard work but also my parents’ support. Having them at my graduation is something I dream about when I’m having a rough time with finals or my assignments.

“I always remind myself [graduation] is getting closer. And my parents will be there, and it will be that much sweeter.”

Towson University was always Cortez’s dream school, even as a student at Westminster High School. That’s because he took part in TU’s Teacher Academy of Maryland program (TAM).  

TAM is a career and technology education program that seeks to address the persistent teacher shortage by creating a pipeline of teacher candidates. High school students start the TAM program in 10th grade and complete a four-course sequence that ends in 12th grade.

“I finished the Teacher Academy of Maryland, and after that going to Towson was a no brainer,” Cortez says. “So, after all these years, Towson University was the goal, and I'm almost done.”

While participating in TAM, Cortez set his sights on becoming a high school Spanish teacher. So along with earning his bachelor’s degree in Spanish, he’s also taking classes in TU’s College of Education.

With his passion for teaching and an education from Towson University, Cortez says he can step into classroom and not only make the curriculum fun for his future students but also help them retain the language.

“Towson has challenged me so much academically,” Cortez says. “I’ve had my mind expanded. TU has done its job and more to prepare me for the classroom.”

TU and the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life have also provided Cortez with connections and friendships that will last a lifetime.

For the past year, he has served as the president for Lambda Theta Phi, Latin Fraternity Incorporated, which is the only active chapter of the organization in the DelMarVa area. He also serves as the president of the Multicultural Greek Council.

As a non-traditional, commuter student, Greek life was never on Cortez’s mind. But one day, while wearing his El Salvador shirt to class, a brother of Lambda Theta Phi approached him and asked if he’d be interested in learning more about the organization.

What started as a reluctant yes led to a dedicated commitment to an organization and the larger Greek community.

“[Lambda Theta Phi] has provided me a platform where I can be there for the community, being someone that is Latin and can succeed in higher education,” Cortez says. “But my brotherhood is special because even though it's Latin based, it's not Latin exclusive. We've had brothers since we were founded of all different shades, beliefs and interests.

“I’ve become a better individual because of the Lambdas.”

While it took him eight years to get to TU, Cortez says he wouldn’t change his journey. Between the professors he plans to stay in contact with after he graduates and the brotherhood he found through fraternity and sorority life, Cortez is truly happy to be a Tiger.

He even likes to say that while TU was his dream school in high school, the reality surpassed the dream.

“Towson is everything,” he says. “This school cares. There is an organization, a club, a support system for everyone. And since I've come here, it's just blown my perspective and my imagination away.”

“But being here wasn't just the right decision. It was the best decision I could ever make just because of how well I was treated.”