Jose Vazquez, Associate Director of Student Leadership and Involvement, is more than
just a campus leader. He’s an example of resilience, authenticity, and academic triumph.
As a college student and proud Latino, Vazquez's mission is to support students who,
like him, are navigating higher education for the first time. In his spare time, you
can find him cheering for the Houston Astros, reminiscing about his years playing
soccer, or bonding with his rescue dogs, Aimee and
Sasha.
Growing up in La Porte, Texas, and later attending the University of Houston as a music major, Vazquez admits his undergraduate experience was more about performances than academics. He struggled early on, failing classes simply because he didn’t understand academic policies and didn’t know to ask for help. But that experience shaped his drive and empathy, laying the foundation for the student advocate he is today.
Now, while pursuing his Master of Science in Management, Strategy, and Leadership at Michigan State University, Vazquez has done what many thought impossible: maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA. That achievement recently earned him acceptance into Phi Kappa Phi, one of the nation’s oldest and most selective honor societies reserved for students in the top 7.5% of their academic programs. It’s an honor that stunned even him, especially considering his rocky academic start.
Beyond the classroom, Vazquez leads with heart. He advises student organizations,
helps students develop leadership skills,
and even helped launch the university’s mariachi band, which has since performed
at high profile events across the city and state. More than all that, his work is
about helping students believe in themselves, just as he learned to believe in himself.
For Vazquez, college is about more than academics. It’s about building community,
embracing culture, learning from mistakes, and never being afraid to ask for help.
His advice to students? It's rooted in experience: "Don’t be afraid to ask for help, make meaningful connections, and know that even when you feel lost, you’re never alone."
Photos courtesy of Jose Vazquez