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Francisco Cordero, Assistant Director Career Advising, Center for Career Development
Francisco Cordero, Assistant Director Career Advising, Center for Career Development
Which identities are you most proud of?
I’ve always been proud of my “latinidad”. Growing up with two Puerto Rican parents, they instilled in me the values and love of my Latin culture through dance, food, music, family traditions, and more food! Puerto Ricans have a strong sense of pride and love for their culture and country, and it has been imbedded in my personal passion and interests. In Puerto Rico, when we feel good about something and we want to express it, we say “WEPA."
What kind of household/family did you grow up in and how did this impact your identities?
Education was a big priority in my family. My parents were the first in our family to leave Puerto Rico and seek advance degrees at Rutgers University. My father earned his master’s degree in Social Work (he recently retired from the field after 30+ years of service) and my mother earned her master’s degree in Public Affairs (she started as a parole officer and has now taught elementary school Spanish for over 20 years). Growing up, my sister and I learned the value of education and the opportunities it creates when you invest the time in it.
Their commitment and sacrifice were very noticeable, and they did everything they could to give us an opportunity to excel in anything we wanted to do. Graduate school was never on my mind, but as I matured during my undergrad, I wanted to be defined my experience by challenging myself to earn a higher degree. Things happen for a reason, and the sacrifices my parents have made got to me to where I wanted to be today.
How has your understanding of EDI and the University’s priorities around EDI and anti-racism inspired your work in new and/or different ways?
What has inspired me about the EDI and anti-racism work and initiatives is that it isn’t being treated as a piece you insert when it is convenient, it goes beyond what fits in the moment. EDI and anti-racism work is a valuable piece that inspires me to embed the principles in my planning, decision making, conversations, and outcomes. I look forward to continuing my growth and understanding in this work to build a more just and equitable campus environment for everyone.
Is there something you want to share that we have not covered?
I was hired during the pandemic and have not been able to meet the great colleagues of Campus Life or experience the rich traditions of Princeton University. However, the light at the end of the tunnel is becoming clearer and brighter. I look forward to connecting with new faces and welcoming a new class of students. I want to share warm wishes to everyone as we inch closer to a somewhat normal academic year.
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