HFC welcomes Maria Lopez-Mauricio, Detroit Promise Coach

Afirst-generation college student, Maria Lopez-Mauricio decided to go into higher education because it gave her numerous opportunities previous generations in her family did not have.

“This is an honor and a responsibility that I do not take lightly,” said Lopez-Mauricio. “I am thankful that I was able to get a college education and can now help students achieve theirs.”

Her experience will lift Detroit Promise to even greater heights

In recent months, Lopez-Mauricio, a 6-year veteran of higher education, joined HFC as one of two new Detroit Promise Campus Success Coaches, along with Eddie McClendon. She reports to Detroit Promise Program Coordinator Reco Spencer.

“Maria is passionate, intelligent, and compassionate,” said Spencer. "She has the ability to connect with students. She brings a wealth of information and ideas that will expand and lift Detroit Promise to even greater heights."

Lopez-Mauricio’s duties include:

• Providing individualized outreach to students based on academics, financial health, mental health, and other relevant factors to help them navigate college successfully.
• Referring students to campus resources for additional outreach and support.
• Finding ways to assist students to navigate collegiate life inside and outside the classroom.

Founded in 2016, the Detroit Promise ensures that any student graduating from any high school in the city of Detroit will have a tuition-free path to an associate degree or technical certificate. The City of Detroit pays for your tuition and fees, as long as you meet the requirements (it does not cover living or incidental expenses). The program is administered by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with colleges like HFC. The College has been a proud participant in the Detroit Promise since the beginning. More than 600 Detroit Promise students attend HFC, which is the largest Detroit Promise enrollment of any college.

Representation matters, and this idea attracted her to HFC

Lopez-Mauricio is no stranger to Detroit Promise. Prior to coming to HFC, she worked as a Detroit Promise Campus Success Coach at Oakland Community College for seven months.

“I know a lot of students who’ve graduated from my alma mater, Western International High School, or are from Southwest Detroit and are students here at HFC,” said Lopez-Mauricio. “I believe representation is helpful to students. It made sense for me to work for a college that has a big population of students who grew up in a similar setting to my background.”

Born in Mexico, Lopez-Mauricio is the youngest of seven children. She immigrated to the United States in 2000. She lives in Detroit with her two sons, ages 4 and 2. After graduating from high school, she earned her bachelor's degree in Spanish and psychology from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Lopez-Mauricio speaks fluent English and Spanish.

“I really like the proximity to Southwest Detroit, the work, and the diverse student body. It’s what makes working at HFC such a pleasure,” she said. “I probably won't be able to eliminate all the challenges that students face such as transportation and housing, but that won’t stop me from trying to help. Having students trust me enough to let me know about their challenges, and providing them with the resources they need to overcome those challenges, is the best part of my job.”

Fellow Detroit Promise Success Coach Delphine Davis, alias “Coach D,” is proud to call Lopez-Mauricio her colleague.

“Maria is a great addition to our team,” said Davis. “She's able to communicate with Latinx students and families with ease, making them feel comfortable and giving them the support they need to pursue their goals.”