The Lifelong Learner

Paula Armendariz, a humble and confident individual never uses a moment to boast about herself and her accomplishments. She has an uplifting aura about her that leaves no question as to why she is in her current position. Before the interview starts, she reveals that she invested time in preparing for the interview, and even reveals the shedding of a tear when reading the other LEGENDS series stories. A scholar at heart with an obvious drive to be a life-long learner, she describes her experiences as a student, mentor, professional, wife, and mother as driving forces to where she is now, the future for her and her family and her role to continue uplifting students on their way to obtain a college degree.

Paula is the Director of the McNeill Academic Program at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Like many academic support programs, McNeill is an educational opportunity program that serves majorly first generation students, students from historically excluded backgrounds and income eligible students. Programs like McNeill provide support to students pursuing a college degree that don’t have the same background or resources as the traditional student. Many students credit the support given in these programs as key to their success in a 4-year university.

“It really allowed me to combine my love of service to community, educational equity and being a lifelong learner.”

Paula herself was a student in the McNeill Academic Program, as a matter of fact, she was in the very shoes of the students she now supports. She, like the majority of her students, was the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. A proud Denver native, she attended John F. Kennedy High School. Growing up in a single parent house, she was  presented obstacles and challenges that otherwise should have deterred her from pursuing an education. From having to watch over her younger sibling, to working a part-time job to contribute financially to the household, there were definitely obstacles that could have deterred her.

“I could have very easily fallen through the cracks if I didn't have this intrinsic motivation”

Resiliency is not wavering when the going gets tough. Having every reason not to was exactly why Paula wanted to pursue an education. In high school she was a part of the Denver Scholarship Foundation ( DSF) and the Pre-Collegiate Development program (PCDP)  based out of CU-Denver. Both of these programs connected her with a valuable network that was instrumental in where she is now.  One of her counselors, Renae Bruning, was one of the counselors who encouraged her to apply to CU-Boulder. Paula was set on going to CU-Denver, it made sense. She could commute while living at home and also save money to continue supporting her family. But Ms. Bruning, as Paula calls her, had other aspirations for her.

“She told me she really wanted me to apply to CU-Boulder. That I could do well there. I had the grades. I had the test scores. Just apply and see what happens. So I credit her with supporting my journey to Boulder. I think there was some self-doubt like, well, I can't go to Boulder. It's too far. It's such a good school, I don't know. Even though I was totally capable. Yeah. I just needed that little encouragement.”

Being a first generation college graduate has also been quite the journey for Paula. As she has done throughout the course of her life, she put some thought into what her next steps were and what she needed to do to get there. A career in higher education was in sight for her, which included pursuing a graduate degree, but she wanted to get her feet wet with what was out there first before committing to a career direction. 

“At the time I was thinking maybe I wanted to be a teacher, because I just loved education and I loved working with youth. So it was a really good experience for me. I learned a lot. Most importantly, I learned that the K-12 space was not necessarily a space that I wanted to be in or work in, and that teaching wasn't my passion. The traditional classroom, that didn't really call to me”

She started her career in the educational nonprofit sector, coordinating educational interventions with students and youth in the K-12 space on a 12 month contract. This would allow her to try it out and see if working with youth in a traditional classroom was her calling. But after that experience, she even had the opportunity to teach for Teach For America and turned that down because she had figured out that the K-12 space wasn’t for her.

“Sometimes we think that our career progression is linear. But it's a linear path and then it's not. It's up and down and backwards and over again. So this path where I am currently is not linear. I had to figure out some things before getting here. It was a humbling experience. But also, I think it's a testament to the importance of developing those relationships and networking with folks, so that you can tap into that when you need to.”

When coupled with professional experience and training, networking can be a powerful tool. Paula tapped her professional network from CU-Boulder and got her foot in the door with the university in a job at admissions. Although she knew it wasn’t her forever job or role, she again knew what she wanted to get out of the role and the opportunities it could open up for her. She worked for admissions for a year and half, then the opportunity opened up through another relationship she leveraged on campus for the McNeil Academic Program as a Program Coordinator. Seven years later, Paula is the Director of the program with only the sky being the limit.  

Legacy lives across generations, but more importantly the future defines what that legacy is. We have met Paula the student, Paula the professional, and even Paula the mentor, We haven’t met Paula the daughter, the wife, and most importantly the Mother. 

The first important relationship in our lives is with our parents. Her mother played a huge role in her life and gave her that why when she was younger to get to where she needed to be. She has a proud father knowing that the college they grew up watching and admiring is where his daughter graduated from and now works at. 

We also find people in our life who are meant to make us better and be life partners through all the challenges and tribulations that life offers. Paula has been fortunate to have a very supportive husband that not only is a hands-on father but supports Paula through all of her career progressions and most importantly her goals and dreams.

But nobody inspires Paula more than her two children. 

“We had a luncheon for our students at the end of last semester for our student leaders. I brought my kids and it was just so special to me. I got emotional seeing my kids running around campus. My son went to the bookstore with my husband and was so excited to have this little buffs football. To know that my kids are growing up on this college campus where both of their parents got their master's degrees, and where ten, fifteen years prior, my husband and I, both first gen college students, were unsure, and  figuring it all out. Knowing that we've changed that trajectory for them keeps me going. I’m holding back the tears as I say that but it’s true.”

When thinking about what you want to be remembered for, some people think about their accomplishments, or how much money they made, but others like Paula, think about the impact they made to others. What would the legend of Paula Armendariz be? As she says:

“I would want them to say that I was brave. I would want them to say that I had an impact. That I promoted educational equity. And I want them to say that my work was really grounded in and rooted in love of community. I think that's what I would want my legacy to be.”