Posted 8 a.m. Friday, March 21, 2025
Adele Lozano recognized with 2025 Regents Diversity Award
Adele Lozano remembers the challenges she faced as a first-generation college student looking to find her place.
“Although I was well-prepared for college academically, I struggled with my purpose in college, especially choosing a major — I really had no academic goals,” says Lozano, who grew up in Iowa and is of Mexican descent. “As a first-generation college student, I was not familiar with how to access resources (for instance, on how to choose a major) and also felt embarrassed to ask for help.”
But at the same time, Lozano was growing in other important ways. Through her work with multicultural student organizations at her university, Lozano developed a passion for activism, the capabilities to be a good leader and a knack for supporting those in need.
These experiences — navigating her own challenges, helping others through activism — served as a launching pad for Lozano’s career in student affairs and academia. Lozano retired in 2024 after a decade teaching in the Student Affairs Administration Department at UW-La Crosse, and many more years as a student affairs professional at other universities.
“Once I finally finished my undergraduate degree (as a nontraditional student raising a family), I knew what my calling was,” Lozano says. “I wanted to work with undergraduate students — especially first-generation students and students of color to help them navigate some of the obstacles I faced and support their success in both academics and leadership.”
It turned out to be a wise decision, as Lozano touched the lives of countless students in her career, culminating with her selection for the 2025 UW Board of Regents Diversity Award. The award recognizes institutional change agents from across all Universities of Wisconsin campuses who have had a significant impact in promoting equity in educational outcomes for historically underrepresented student populations.
The timing of the award, on the heels of Lozano’s retirement, has given her an opportunity to reflect on her career in its entirety, fondly remembering the opportunities she helped create for students.
Her time working with the Mujere Orgullosas, an unofficial organization supporting Latina students, is particularly memorable.
“I served as their informal faculty advisor and helped them with various activities, especially their end-of-the-year Graduation Celebration,” Lozano says. “Seeing them celebrate their accomplishments and their pride in reaching such an important milestone (graduation) fortified my passion for student affairs work.”
Inside and outside the classroom, Lozano used her skills and experience to advance equity, diversity and inclusion on campus.
“Throughout my tenure at UWL, I can point to various concrete and abstract experiences where I hope I made a difference,” she says. “(This includes) sharing my research on Latinx student leadership during Social Justice Week, serving on various UWL and community committees (such as the MLK Jr. Awards committee), and speaking to campus about my journey as an instructor with a focus on biculturalism and breaking stereotypes about Latina women.
“So many experiences — some of them smaller but still significant to me — have me looking back on my tenure at UWL with a sense of pride and gratitude.”
In the classroom, Lozano embraced the opportunity to help shape the next generation of student affairs professionals, sharing lessons from her own college experience and preparing students for various careers in university leadership.
After working in administrative positions at other large universities, teaching at UWL proved to be a perfect change of pace.
“I was really impressed with UWL's commitment to good teaching and the fantastic resources offered to instructors through the Center for Advancing Teaching & Learning,” Lozano says. “I had previously only worked at large Research 1 institutions, so I was aware of how academic departments were sometimes fraught with competition, politics and turf issues. The Student Affairs Administration Department was not like that. It was a place I felt I could thrive.”
As part of her award from the Regents, Lozano received $7,500 to be used for professional development opportunities supporting the Student Affairs Administration Department. (More on how these funds will be spent.)
For Lozano, in retirement, the award serves to strengthen her connection to UWL while reinforcing the importance of supporting students in their educational journeys.
“I feel that I will always be connected to UWL, and this award reminds me of that,” she says. “Also, during this time of challenges to diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education, it's critical to continue to value the work of faculty and staff who promote inclusion and belonging on campus. I do not do the work by myself. I am indebted to my mentors (like Professor of History Víctor Macías-González) and to good friends and colleagues in Student Affairs Administration.”