Diego Vazquez is a senior and Supply Chain Management major with a unique educational background.

Prior to attending the University of Houston-Downtown, Diego was a dual-credit student at Spring Early College Academy, where he graduated in 2020 with both his high school diploma and associate degree. Afterward, he continued taking courses at Lone Star College before transferring to UHD.

Diego learned about UHD through college fairs while exploring his options for a university. When asked what surprised him the most about UHD, he said, "What surprised me most was how welcomed I felt. Once I signed up and was admitted, I was instantly being included and invited to multiple events, clubs, and friend groups."

Happy to share the welcoming spirit, Diego had this to say to new students considering UHD. “Give it a shot and go for it. This is a great university of high quality. Students and staff make you feel special and unique like no other. The number of resources offered and the instant help you receive is the best. Here, you are looked out for and reminded that your goals and dreams matter too. When I needed an opportunity, UHD had my back."

When asked about his professional goals for the future, Diego said, “I want to make people feel purposeful and to make their dreams come true. I want to make life worth living and enjoyable for all. I would love to grow as a businessman and provide millions of opportunities for others to be great and to do what they love without anything holding them back."

UHD is fortunate to have had Diego as a student speaker at two events, the “Seal Your Success: UHD in ’23” Spring Early College Academy visit and the Destination Downtown Open House.

Returning to his high school for the Spring Early College Academy visit, Diego observed, “A lot of students are still working through the various choices they have in front of them.” To navigate these choices, he encouraged them "to focus on what they want to pursue most and to see who is willing to accommodate their needs.”

As a representative for UHD, Diego had the opportunity to address a wider audience of prospective UHD students at the Destination Downtown Open House. He said, “My experience at the open house was fantastic. It was an honor to come to campus and be a guest speaker with credibility to offer others a chance at imagining their life at UHD. I felt so welcomed, the applause, the time given to me to speak, and the respect around the room was everything to me.”

Diego also noted that prospective students can potentially connect better with him as a current UHD student compared to other faculty and staff. Unlike most staff and faculty, the college search process is still fresh for him, sharing, “It wasn’t long ago that I was in their shoes trying to figure a lot of things out. Hearing about their concerns and questions reminded me of when I had that same curiosity.”

“Diego is a shining example of the power of education and how UHD provides so many students academic opportunities,” commented Dr. Daniel Villanueva Jr., Vice President of Enrollment Management, on Diego’s impact at these visits. “His story mirrors many current juniors and seniors looking to find a home after high school. As Diego shared, UHD is the perfect place for so many students looking for an opportunity to get a great educational experience and transition straight into the workforce.”

With his unique perspective and approachable demeanor, Diego Vazquez offered an inside peek to the prospective students’ potential futures at UHD. The division of Enrollment Management is grateful for Diego’s contributions to these visits as he shared his own journey and UHD experience.