Empowering Communities: Hispanic Heritage Month with Alexia Urias

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences highlights the experiences and achievements of students who embody leadership, resilience, and cultural pride. Alexia Urias — a first-generation senior majoring in political science with a minor in Spanish — serves as an SBS Ambassador and recently began an exciting new role at the Consulate of Mexico in Tucson. From balancing her studies with meaningful professional opportunities to honoring her family’s heritage, Alexia’s journey reflects the spirit of this month’s celebration. In the following Q&A, she shares more about her background, passions, and what motivates her to serve her community.

 

Please share a bit about your family and your background.

I come from a proud Mexican family with a long line of immigrants. My great-great-grandparents came from Lebanon to Mexico, and later, my family came to the United States and settled in Tucson. Growing up on Tucson’s south side shaped who I am and how I represent myself. Being a first-generation college student is especially significant to me — I carry with me everywhere the sacrifices my parents have made so I could pursue a higher education. My family is my foundation; they’ve instilled in me resilience, strong values, and the importance of giving back to the community that raised me.

What are you the most passionate about? What sparked this interest?

I am most passionate about uplifting immigrant and Latino/Hispanic communities, especially when it comes to access to resources, education, and civic participation. This passion comes from my lived experience navigating school and opportunities without a roadmap as a first-generation student and seeing how many others around me faced similar barriers. That pushed me toward public service and advocacy. For example, I created a free bilingual U.S. citizenship guide to make the naturalization process more accessible, and through my advocacy, I’ve also been featured on local news. For me, it’s about using my voice, so others feel empowered to do the same — or even more.

Talk about your exciting new job with the consulate!

This summer, I was applying for internship opportunities and ended up applying at the Consulate of Mexico. To my surprise, instead of an internship, I was offered a job. It’s truly a blessing — such an eye-opening experience that lets me work with both the Mexican and American governments, while also serving the Mexican community here. Every interaction reminds me of my purpose and why I do this work. It really feels like the best of both worlds and the perfect fit with my values.

What does work at the Consulate of Mexico in Tucson mean to you?

Working at the consulate means being able to see, in real time, the impact of the resources we provide. It’s one thing to learn about policies and systems in the classroom, but it’s another to meet the people who need those resources and help connect them. Sometimes that even means helping locate family members who may be at the border and bringing loved one’s answers and relief. For me, it’s about letting people know: “I’ve got you, I’m here to help.”

How do you see your work and studies intersecting with your long-term goals for serving your community?

My long-term goals center on public work and advocacy, and my studies in political science and Spanish tie directly into that. What I learn in class has real-world value that I apply every day at the consulate. At the same time, my work at the consulate reinforces what I’m learning academically — it’s a cycle of knowledge and practice. Ultimately, it’s preparing me for a career where I can keep serving my community and advocating for those who need it most.

You balance being a first-generation student, an SBS Ambassador, and now your new role at the consulate, what motivates you to keep pushing forward when things get challenging?

Honestly, my family motivates me more than anything. I’ve seen my parents work day and night to provide for us — sometimes my mom leaves for work at 8 in the morning and doesn’t come home until 10 at night. Seeing their sacrifices makes me want to work just as hard to honor them. Being a first-generation student at the University of Arizona isn’t just about me — it’s about building roots here in Tucson, giving back to the community that raised me, and showing my family that their sacrifices mean the world to me.

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