Students Building a Bridge to Professionality

Jasmine Medina, a fourth-year accounting major at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), has always had ambitious goals. As a first-generation student, she felt she had to take an extra step to find career guidance, and she found it through the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA).

ALPFA at CSULB aims to facilitate that transition. For many college students—especially Latino and first-generation students—the path into corporate America is a new frontier. ALPFA serves as a stepping stone between the classroom and the professional world, guiding students' transition from academic preparation to professional practices. Rather than allowing students to navigate that process on their own, ALPFA emphasizes collective growth. Through mentorship, networking events and professional development programs, the organization provides students with the preparation, accessibility and representation they need to navigate their future as professionals. The organization also has pillars which include mentorship, leadership, professional development and community. 

In 2024, a study by Coqual found that Latinos remain underrepresented in corporate leadership, making up just 10% of managers and 5% of executives. The report also noted that 40% of Latino professionals said they feel the need to alter aspects of themselves in order to succeed at work. Coqual’s research aims to create more equity by identifying workplace bias and addressing the challenges that limit professional growth for marginalized groups.

“Entering professional spaces where no one looks like you or has modeled the path forward can make the journey daunting,” Medina said. ALPFA serves as that blueprint for students, connecting them with campus opportunities. Outside of campus, these opportunities look like audit or tax associate positions for Deloitte, Baker Tilly Internships and Ernst & Young (EY), some of which include full-time offers. 

Medina currently serves as president of ALPFA and plans to continue contributing and maintaining the ongoing legacy this club has given her. 

“It really took away the nerve of thinking about it as a scary kind of thing. I don’t get scared of navigating these spaces. I don’t get scared of taking up space in these places,” Medina said. 

Beyond the community aspect, ALPFA focuses heavily on creating direct access between students and professionals in common fields. Through networking events, alumni partnerships and structured mentorship programs, students are introduced to professionals. ALPFA creates an environment designed to ease the intimidation many students feel in these competitive spots.

“We don’t see ourselves as a society. We see ourselves as a community, uplifting each other and sharing opportunities, growing and developing professionally,” Medina said.

For Jocelyn Flores, an accounting major and ALPFA’s director of marketing, that access shifted her perspective beyond the classroom. 

She joined the group in fall 2025. “ALPFA has been a strong foundation for viewing my professional life beyond just being a student,” Flores said. “It’s given me insight into what it looks like—knowing how to build a resume, how to talk to recruiters, who to speak to and what questions to ask.” 

ALPFA provides workshops and networking events designed to introduce practical tools to extend beyond coursework. Some of these events range from resume-building workshops and professional headshots to visits from professional companies and guest speakers. Although the thought of an authoritative figure can be intimidating, rather than replicating rigid corporate environments, ALPFA aims to make its events feel approachable.

“Our events give you the opportunity to see professionals as people, not someone you should be scared of,” Flores said. “We emphasize that professionals are people too. There’s a place for you there, just like there was for them.”

This level of contact allows for comfort between students and professionals, serving as a bridge for networking at a personal level. That access can lead to noticeable outcomes.

“I personally benefited from ALPFA and was able to secure an incoming tax internship at (EY) Ernst & Young through the opportunities and connections I gained from ALPFA,” said Flores.

In addition to networking events, ALPFA also offers mentorship through PEG, Professional Education Guidance Mentorship, which pairs students with professionals who volunteer their time and experience. 

The positions of these professionals can vary in the business sector, such as in the accounting and marketing fields. These mentorships serve as a helping hand into the corporate world while also being that role model many students don’t have.

“It’s not just internship opportunities or job offers. It’s also creating spaces where students can see themselves in those roles,” Medina said. “Through our mentorship program, PEG, students are paired with professionals who want to give back.”

While access creates opportunity, preparation builds confidence. 

“I’m more reserved and shy, but honestly, that helped me break the ice. It really helped me become more confident within myself and be open-minded,” said Nereida Palacios, a fourth-year accounting major who joined ALPFA in her final semester. 

ALPFA fosters a space that encourages students to actively develop communication skills and apply them in different professional settings.

Palacios feels that the more she engages with professionals, the easier it is to humanize and relate. Some of the smaller networking gatherings allowed her to engage with professionals in a more relaxed setting, furthering that sense of comfort she had established at the more formal networking events.

“El cafecito… talking with professionals… that was something that stuck with me,” Palacios said. “But the more professionals I spoke with, and the more questions I heard from other students, it made me feel comfortable to ask anything because they’re like us, they’re people.”