Victoria “Vickie” Sanchez was recently named one of the top 39 most influential Latinos in Wisconsin by Madison 365, which is run by the 365 Media Foundation – a nonprofit journalistic organization based in Madison.

Sanchez started her stint at UW-Stout about a decade ago, and has since worked with student organizations Latinos Unidos and Black Student Union, encouraging and facilitating diverse conversations, according to a UW-Stout media release.

“I’m just doing what I am meant to do,” said Sanchez,the university’s student service coordinator for Multicultural Student Services. “I appreciate it. My hope is to inspire inspiration.”

”

I’m just doing what I am meant to do. I appreciate it. My hope is to inspire inspiration.

VICTORIA SANCHEZ

UW-STOUT

Sanchez, who obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Winona State University and a master’s degree in student affairs administration from UW-La Crosse, was raised in Milwaukee and understands the experiences of first-generation college students leaving low-income homes for education, according to her staff bio. She currently coordinates Students Thriving in Academic Resilience (STAR) Scholars Learning Community, Stoutward Bound Living Community, and Students With A Goal (SWAG) Living Community. She also works as a qualifying administer of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) which helps educate students on cultural competency and navigating predominantly white institutions.

“My job is the retention of underrepresented minority students,” Sanchez said in the release. “It’s a world I know. My job is personal to me. What has been a personal goal has now become a passion. I have seen a lot of students graduate and flourish. It has been an amazing part of my professional career.”