Alumni Spotlight: Dr. Valery Maya

Class of 2017

President of the Washington, D.C., Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) 

Degree:

Business Administration

Current Role:

Strategy and Technology Consultant at PwC

Where are you from, and what brought you to Marymount?

I was born in Mexico and moved to the United States when I was eight years old. My academic and career path has been anything but traditional because I was undocumented for many years. I didn’t realize that until I began applying for college, which limited my opportunities despite earning full scholarships. I attended community college first and transferred to Marymount once my legal status was resolved. I chose Marymount because I grew up in a Catholic household, and I appreciated the University’s commitment to spirituality and moral values—it felt like a good fit for me.

What was your overall experience like at Marymount?

My experience was very positive, although I was a commuter student so I wasn’t always on campus. That shaped my experience differently from students who lived there, but I really loved my time at Marymount. That gave me a unique perspective—I saw how important it would be for commuter and Latino students to have a professional organization focused on mentorship and development. There was a cultural organization at the time, but nothing that bridged the gap between college and professional life for first-generation students. That realization helped inspire my later involvement with the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) .

What was your career trajectory after graduation, and how did you get involved with ALPFA? 

My journey has definitely not been linear. When I was 16, I found out my father had stage 4 prostate cancer, and I had to translate that diagnosis for him after a doctor refused to wait for an interpreter. That moment made me passionate about health care access and advocacy. After high school, I became my father’s primary caregiver while working full time at Wells Fargo and attending school full time at Marymount. One of my clients there encouraged me to apply for a position at MedStar Health, where I started working in the same hospital system where my father was treated. After he passed, I transitioned into health care consulting with the Defense Health Agency and Deloitte, then later joined PwC. 

I got involved with ALPFA about five years ago. A PwC colleague who was a former chapter president encouraged me to take on a VP role. I didn’t hesitate—I just wanted to do whatever I could to support my community. And here I am, still deeply involved five years later.

What motivated you to help start an ALPFA chapter at Marymount?

My motivation came from reflecting on my own journey, because I wish something like ALPFA had been available to me as a student. First-generation students often have to figure everything out on their own. Their parents may not have the time or resources to guide them through college or career steps. I wanted to make sure other students don’t have to go through that alone.

I had a positive experience at Marymount, and I wanted to make sure that the Latino community at Marymount had access to some of ALPFA’s life-changing resources like mentorship, professional development and a supportive community. It’s not limited to one sector—there are opportunities in health care, technology, business and many other fields. The organization truly changes lives by helping students and professionals make the right connections and build the skills they need to succeed in any position. I wanted to pay it forward and make sure my fellow Saints had access to the opportunities and resources I didn’t have. The chapter is small right now, but I would love to see it grow and become one of the most popular organizations at Marymount!

What advice would you give to young Latino students?

Build authentic connections. Don’t be afraid to reach out to peers, faculty or professionals, but be intentional about how you do it. Relationships should never be transactional, they should be collaborative and genuine. I always tell students—don’t just reach out to someone asking what they can do for you. Find a way to contribute first. Our community thrives on collaboration and mutual support, and the best thing we can do is keep lifting each other up.