Regina Alcantara Aviles '25

Regina Alcantara Aviles '25
Major: Communications
Involvements: Resident Assistant, Latinx Student Union, Lambda Pi Eta

When Regina Alcantara Aviles transferred to Loyola Marymount University from her community college in Seattle, she was stepping into a whole new chapter of her life. As an international student, navigating a new community and campus could have been overwhelming. But instead, she found herself embraced by the people and programs that made LMU feel like home.

One of the moments that defined her college experience was Wellness Wednesday, a signature event hosted by LMU CARES. “It's a place where you're going to at least find one of your friends hanging out,” she says. It was a unique event at LMU that she didn’t find on any other campus that she toured. 

As a transfer student, Aviles wanted to make the most of the time she had here. “Me and my roommate, our first semester went to so many different events so that we could meet people,” she shares. She brought warmth to everything she touched, using her experience as a transfer student to support others who were also finding their way.

Academically, her passion for communication grew as she explored its real-world applications and collaborated with faculty who pushed her to think bigger. “I've learned that I'm stronger than I thought I was,” she reflects. She was able to take her education to the next level by participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program and contribute to the greater communication field. 

Through it all, she stayed grounded in reflection and purpose, values that led her to resonate most with LMU’s student EXP pillar of Integrate Mind, Body, and Spirit. “I think LMU was a safe environment for me to explore who I was and connect to all of the pieces that were disconnected within me,” she adds. Having the chapel on campus gave her a space to turn to when she needed it as well. 

As she gets ready to graduate, Aviles is looking ahead to optional practical training as an international student and look at applying to graduate schools. She is grateful for the growth she experienced and the community she helped shape.

Her final message to LMU: “Thank you for being so welcoming, for listening to the students, and providing spaces that we can thrive.”