Silicon Valley Team Feature: Valerie Cruz-Aguayo

Valerie Cruz-Aguayo brings a blend of warmth, adaptability, and a genuine passion for student success to her role as Administrative Coordinator for the Career Development and Experiential Learning team at Northeastern in Silicon Valley. Valerie works alongside department head Natasha Odama, career development advisor Manny Machado, and experiential learning specialist Hannah Kang. Valerie’s day to day responsibilities include processing important clearances for international student workers, ensuring the correct university procedures are followed to register co-ops, managing operations tasks for the team, staging events large and small, and publishing the Career Designer newsletter. Recently, she’s begun offering office hours, and she is excited to directly support students shaping their career journeys.

Valerie’s career pathway was full of unexpected turns. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Literature and Cultures from UC Merced, initially planning to become a literature professor. Midway through graduate work at San Jose State, she realized that a teaching and publishing career wasn’t her true calling and decided to pivot. After exploring several roles, she applied as an operations assistant at Northeastern, where she discovered a surprising passion for education administration. “I didn’t expect to like working in education as much as I did,” Valerie reflects, describing how the challenges and chance to make a difference fueled her commitment to pursue deeper engagement in the field.

Her journey within Northeastern has been marked by growth and shifts across departments, from operations to student services, then to career development. Valerie recalls the steep learning curve of navigating work authorization and co-op processes, having never encountered them before joining the team. Her eagerness to learn and collaborate has turned initial uncertainty into expertise. “There are always cases you’ve never encountered before, but after completing them, it’s so rewarding, just knowing I did the most that I could and learned something new,” she shares.

Valerie’s role also demands strong coordination, sometimes with three or four departments, to clarify policies for complex student cases. She emphasizes the importance of flexibility, openness to learning, and staying connected to student needs. Supporting a diverse international student body has been especially rewarding; Valerie consistently seeks feedback from both supervisors and students to ensure she’s providing effective support and fostering an environment where students feel comfortable reaching out.

Dedicated to growing professionally, Valerie has recently completed a rigorous internal training program to qualify for career advising. She’s excited to launch office hours this semester to meet students one-on-one, helping them navigate questions and career decisions. Alongside this, she is pursuing a Higher Education Administration certificate, aiming to deepen her knowledge and expand her impact in higher education.

Outside work, Valerie’s family life is rich with activity and adventure. She is the devoted mother to nearly three-year-old Valentine, and their family enjoys exploring local parks and traveling. Among their favorite trips was a visit to Japan, where Valerie loved immersing in the culture and cuisine. Another memorable story involves a rainy day in New York City when Valerie and her husband were caught unprepared with their baby. “We had to quickly run for cover because we didn’t want the baby to get soaked,” she recalls with a laugh, highlighting the challenges and joys of traveling with a toddler in tow.

For students facing the challenges of international education and career navigation, Valerie emphasizes balance and exploration. “Maintain a good work-life balance… and don’t be afraid to explore,” she advises, drawing from her own experience pivoting away from academia to education administration. “I was scared at first, but I’m very happy with the path that I’ve taken.” Her words offer comfort and encouragement to those making bold career shifts or facing uncertainty, reminding them that growth often comes from stepping into the unknown with curiosity and resilience.

With openness to new challenges and authentic care for those around her, Valerie continues to shape not only her own journey but also the journeys of countless students she supports. Her story is a testament to the power of flexibility, lifelong learning, and genuine connection. As Valerie forges ahead, both in her professional development and family adventures, she reminds our campus community that embracing change and showing up for others can leave a lasting impact on every path we walk together.