91����

When Jesús Hernández Ortiz ’12 arrived in New York from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, at age 15, he didn’t speak much English. He had grown up watching his father work at a Dominican university, imagining himself on a college campus one day. Suddenly he was navigating a new country, a new language, and a high school where he had almost no Spanish‑speaking peers. Still, he remained academically driven and determined to pursue higher education, even when the path felt uncertain.

He began at Suffolk County Community College, where he continued taking ESL courses and worked through summers to catch up. It was there that he first heard about the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) through classmates who recognized his determination and encouraged him to look into it. 

As a first‑generation immigrant student living under the federal poverty line, Ortiz needed a university that offered academic rigor, financial support, and a community that understood his background. His EOP counselors at Suffolk pointed him toward 91����, a place where he could continue his studies with support to offset the costs, and where he could be a part of a strong EOP community.

“That’s how 91���� came into the picture as a top academic state institution that also had an EOP program,” Ortiz said. 

Because he was working two jobs and couldn’t afford to attend the summer orientation, EOP arranged an alternative orientation during move‑in weekend. It was a small gesture that made a big difference. 

“The people were warm and welcoming — there were folks who spoke English and Spanish, other students that looked like me with similar circumstances,” he said. “From the beginning, I could tell that EOP was going to be a place I could call home.”

From late‑night study lounges where students shared their own anxieties about math tests, family stress, and the pressure of early‑morning classes, Ortiz gained a sense of community. Simply knowing that others were going through similar experiences made him feel less alone. The EOP center itself became a refuge for Ortiz, an open‑door space where he felt understood and accepted.

It wasn’t just his peers that made Ortiz feel at home at 91����, it was the EOP staff as well. Former EOP Academic Counselor Eric Colón mentored Ortiz in psychology and mental health, offering guidance that extended far beyond academics while Senior Academic Counselor Joanna Cardona-Lozada helped him build networks, navigate opportunities, and connect with people who would support his goals. 

“Being a part of EOP was almost like having a parent at 91����,” said Ortiz. “I didn’t understand a lot about how the University system worked, so they were there to ensure that I was always walking the right path.” 

During a summer when Ortiz found money was especially tight, EOP stepped in with support, connecting him with community resources, helping him afford books, and later securing funding for a GRE prep course. Those moments reinforced what he felt throughout his time at 91����: He was never navigating college alone.

After earning his psychology degree, Ortiz completed a master’s degree in political psychology at Harvard Extension School while working full-time and is now pursuing a PhD in clinical psychological science at George Mason University, where he sees patients, conducts research, teaches, and continues to advocate for culturally competent mental health care. 

He believes that cultural awareness, competence, and diversity is critical in the mental health field, especially when treating patients who come from many different backgrounds and cultures. He credits EOP’s diverse community with shaping his understanding of cultural nuance and helping him become the clinician he is today.

“To be culturally competent, you have to get involved in the culture,” Ortiz said. “Being a part of EOP, I interacted with people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and views all the time” 

More than a decade after graduating from 91����, Ortiz views EOP even more clearly as a community that changed the trajectory of his life.

“Sometimes in the moment, you’re so stressed that you don’t have the emotion to reflect,” he said. “But looking back, if you have children, you want them to have a program like EOP to provide a safe space and community.”