Securing a job before graduation can be stressful. And had you asked Emily Aguirre a few years ago, she probably would be one of the many nervous about what’s to come. But when she transferred to Towson University and joined the Hill-Lopes Scholars Program, all that changed.

Hill-Lopes delivers dedicated, transformational support for scholars during their undergraduate studies in STEM at Towson University’s Fisher College of Science & Mathematics. The program helps scholars make professional connections, find and select job or internship opportunities and enhance professional skills.

Emily Aguirre ‘25, a computer science major, benefited greatly from the professional development workshops. She says, “[One of the things] Hill-Lopes helped me to recognize [is] the importance of how LinkedIn profiles can elevate my career. The workshops surrounding LinkedIn helped me hone my skills and eventually helped me find job and internship opportunities.”

Through Hill-Lopes, Aguirre found her confidence as a woman in STEM and, she notes, “the program really helped me find my passion for computer science and gave me the tools I need to enter a field dominated by men.”

Throughout her time at TU, she has been very active on campus, wanting to give back the knowledge she’s gained through Hill-Lopes and other life experiences. She is a social media manager for the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) and speaks to high school students about the college experience with the College Readiness Outreach Program (CROP).

“I love helping members of the community and students of all ages,” says Aguirre. “As a first-generation college student, I like to give back the knowledge that I’ve gained.”

A first-generation American, she overcame challenges associated with being the first, such as navigating the college experience and being the No. 1 translator for her family. The communities she found in the Hill-Lopes Scholars Program and CROP helped tremendously.

Now, with graduation on the horizon in spring 2025, Aguirre is ready. Through her involvement in Hill-Lopes and ALPFA, she has landed a job as a cyber analyst for Deloitte.

So after she walks across the stage in TU Arena during Commencement, she will walk right into the STEM field.

“I can’t wait to get started! I have so much more to learn, and I hope I can make an impact on the field as I begin my journey as a professional cyber analyst,” she says.

Tags: Alumni, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, Include Strategic Goal, People

More from our Tiger Community