Junior Avalos

I am originally from Houston, Texas, and came to Minnesota to attend St. Olaf College, where I earned my B.A. in Dance and Political Science with a concentration in Women & Gender Studies. As a proud first-generation college student and TRIO alum, I know firsthand the challenges of navigating higher education while also learning how to build confidence, seek out opportunities, and trust in your own potential.

My professional journey has been anything but linear. I’ve been a community organizer and lobbyist, a nonprofit program manager, a public policy advocate, a community outreach specialist at the Guthrie Theater, a full-stack software engineering student, and most recently an Academic Advisor with St. Olaf’s TRIO Educational Talent Search program. Each of these roles has given me different titles and responsibilities, but at the core, all of them have been about helping people see possibilities, develop their toolkit, and find clarity in spaces where opportunities weren’t always obvious.

I share this because I know many students are unsure of what comes next, or feel pressure to have everything figured out right away. My own story is proof that your path can be dynamic, nonlinear, and still deeply meaningful. Holding multiple identities and experiences across different sectors allows me to meet students where they are and help them connect the dots between their values, experiences, and goals.

Outside of work, I enjoy playing rugby with a local International Gay Rugby team, lifting weights, performing as a drag queen in the Twin Cities, collecting blindbox trinkets, and talking about astrology, anime, or video games.