Chelsea Martinez, Assistant Director for the Center of Student Advocacy and Community Hits the Ground Running
DSA News
April 10, 2024
The Center for Student Advocacy and Community (CSAC) welcomed Chelsea Martinez to serve as their Assistant Director and she has become a strong addition to the department’s leadership team. Chelsea brings a wealth of experience and knowledge about student needs, community development, and what it takes to help students succeed on campus.
Chelsea plays an important role in advancing the mission of the Center for Student Advocacy and Community, which is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for all students. She works closely with Michael Crook, the Director of the Center, to develop and carry out strategic initiatives that enhance the overall student experience and fortify ties within the university community.
“Chelsea has only been here a couple of months, but it feels like much longer because of the positive impact that she’s had. She played an important role in the MLK Commemorative Celebration and the CSAC Grand Opening’s success!” Crook said, “Her perspective is valuable, and I can’t wait to see what she does to elevate our department’s presence and continue to tell our story!”
Chelsea has been working at the university since 2019 and holds a proven track record in executing strategic planning, development, and implementation of assessment projects. While working as a graduate assistant at the Division of Administration and Finance, she aided in completing assessments across various functional areas. Through this experience, she gained insights into the significance of assessment in continuously improving university services and processes. Presently, she is pursuing a PhD at the College of Education. She served as a teaching assistant, guiding master’s and PhD students in research methods courses as a mentor.
Overall, Chelsea holds 10 years of experience in higher education and college access. She possesses a deep understanding of the challenges faced by students today and a vision for creating an environment that promotes personal growth and academic success.
As the Assistant Director for the department, Chelsea wears many hats. In addition to serving as the marketing manager for the department, she oversees the #IAMUH campaign, creates new advocacy-related resources, and collaborates with staff, faculty, departments, and student organizations across the university to coordinate cultural celebration and heritage month calendars. These calendars raise awareness of events and observances taking place throughout the year. She plans to work diligently to raise awareness and celebrate the University of Houston’s Title V federal designations as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and will be the chair of a planning committee that will host the University of Houston’s first “HSI Day” this fall!
Chelsea expressed excitement about working at the center and said, “I’m excited for the opportunity to work more closely with students at the University of Houston. I look forward to being a resource, collaborating with students and building community here at UH. UH has given me a lot of opportunity and it’s exciting to be able to give back.”
Chelsea effectively supports student staff in their roles at the center, helping them to grow professionally and is flexible to accommodate needs. Safia Aslam Chaudhary, an instructional assistant at the center said, “Chelsea is dynamic in her role, she empowers students to take decisions and encourages them to build mutual support.”
If you would like to connect with Chelsea about this fall’s HSI Day, the Cultural Celebration or Heritage Month calendars, or any other reason, reach out to her at clmartinez@cougarnet.uh.edu.
More about the Center for Student Advocacy and Community:
The Center for Student Advocacy and Community reduces barriers that inhibit academic and personal success by identifying areas of need, providing connections to resources, and supporting student-led programs and initiatives that strengthen our community. Learn More.
Written by Safia Aslam Chaudhary and Michael Crook – Center for Student Advocacy and Community