V.L. is a proud first-generation, queer, genderfluid chicanx from occupied Chumash land in the California area and currently lives on occupied Cowlitz land near the Portland campus with their dog, Angel Monster. You can often find V.L. and Angel going for a stroll by the fountain on the Portland campus! As a first-generation student, V.L.'s biggest goal while growing up was to just make it to college! Once there, V.L., like many first-gen and elder sibling students, found out what a beast the higher education system could be and made sure to learn as much as they could to guide their younger family members who also aspired to get to college on how to navigate that as well. V.L. proudly graduated early from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2018 with a double major in women's studies and American studies and a certificate in Spanish. V.L. has been working in the SoN admissions office since 2019 and loves using all their knowledge to work directly with students to fulfill their academic dreams and navigate their higher education experience.

You can typically find V.L. working on the 3^rd floor at the School of Nursing on Mondays and Tuesdays and working from home Wednesday-Friday. Say hi to V.L. if you see them around and don't hesitate to reach out and ask questions-- if they don't know the answer, they'll find out who does! V.L. loves to see students feeling comfortable and confident and is happy to help them out in any way they can. 

In their free time, V.L. loves to knit, sit in the sun, play with their dog, Angel, and swim or float in bodies of water.