CAPLA Bids Farewell to Emilio Romero
The CAPLA community bids farewell to Emilio Romero, who served as the Alumni and Development Affairs Manager, as he transitions to the University of Arizona Foundation to take on the role of Associate Director of Alumni Career and Professional Development.
Emilio's journey with CAPLA began over six years ago when he joined as the college's first recruiter. In this role, he played a key part in boosting enrollment, notably increasing diversity among recruited students. Later, as the Graduate Coordinator, he provided crucial academic support to graduate students, contributing to the growth of the College's graduate programs despite challenges posed by the pandemic.
In his most recent role on the Advancement Team, Emilio strengthened connections with the alumni community. Under his leadership, initiatives like the Job Interview Fair and Alumni Engagement in mentorship and recruitment thrived, showcasing his dedication to supporting students beyond graduation.
"I've been lucky to have supported CAPLA's students in all the roles I've held at the college," he said. "Taking on the Job Interview Fair and bringing on amazing partners through alumni engagement was just as rewarding as the positions I saw students take on after graduation."
CAPLA continues to benefit from strong industry partnerships, evident through initiatives like scholarships and internships that support students each year through events like the Job Interview Fair.
Although Emilio's time as a CAPLA student in 2007 was brief, it left a lasting impression that guided his career within the college. His involvement in inaugural committees and contributions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion initiatives, as well as strategic planning, underscore his dedication to the CAPLA community.
"Working with prospective students, seeing them come through orientations and pursuing the full experience through to graduation, it truly was a gift to be part of," he said.
Emilio also served on many inaugural committees and shared valuable insights on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Staff Advisory Council (SAC) and Strategic Planning Initiatives.
"The commitment from our staff and faculty to our students, alumni and their families is unmatched everywhere else I've been on campus," he said. "I will miss saying hi to students and faculty, and working hard to keep the gears moving with our staff, but I know that CAPLA will continue to recruit, educate, and ignite talented alumni."
As he transitions to his new role at the University of Arizona Foundation, Emilio looks forward to continuing his work with alumni, confident in CAPLA's ability to inspire creativity, innovation, and success in the built environment.
