In 2013, Flory L. Seidel’s life and career path were changed forever when he was hit on his left side by a large truck and suffered major trauma to just about his entire body. 

His teeth were crushed, his ribs were broken, he had multiple lacerations, and he had major injuries to his hand, arm, knee, and leg.

“He hit me, blasted me across the street, and then drove over me,” Flory recalls about the accident. 

He was taken to the hospital, but he didn’t stay long. 

Although no one went into 2020 thinking they’d need to have the chops to successfully adjust to the complexities of a global pandemic, it turned out to be the type of situation Dr. Jackeline Mejias-Fuertes was particularly well-suited to handle. 

“As an entrepreneur, adapting to changes, pivoting, and finding new opportunities during a challenging time is what I do and part of who I am,” explains our May 2021 Alum of the Month. 

If there is anything Denise Soltero believes in, it is her education. She knows firsthand that when you stick to your goals and work through obstacles, the rewards you reap are that much sweeter. She has carried that mindset with her through her early life and education to her college journey at the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC).  

Although he’s not yet 23, our February Student of the Month Dan Fiore is tackling his career and educational ambitions with a sense of purpose that belies his youthfulness. Currently active duty in the U.S. Navy, Dan spends his nights working as an aviation mechanic at a base on the East Coast. When he gets off work around 3 am, he hits the gym, sleeps until noon, and then starts cracking the books to work on his studies. 

Growing up in Ohio as the oldest of five siblings, Constance Conner says her younger brothers and sisters always made her feel like a superhero. “They think everything I do is so easy, and I’m like…‘Guys, you don’t even know the half of it.’”

Although she might not consider herself clairvoyant, Christina Champagne had the foresight to recognize she was headed down the wrong path during her early high school years. 

It all began when her grandmother passed away after a two-year battle with cancer, and at age 10, Christina’s parents separated. These two tragic events set her on a course for self-destruction that culminated when she was 15. 

Ashley Walker was training for the Summer 2020 Olympics as a member of the Romanian national women’s basketball team when her dream of playing in Tokyo was cut short by an injury. 

It was a major blow to the power forward who had received dual citizenship in Romania for a chance to eventually play on the world stage. In an instant, Ashley’s 12-year career as a professional basketball player came to an abrupt end, and her future was in question.

“It is literally my one regret,” she admits.

As quickly as that uncertainty came, however, it passed. 

The world of sports has been interwoven throughout the personal and professional pursuits of alum Dr. Angel Brutus. In high school, she was a cheerleader who also competed in softball and volleyball. While an undergrad, she worked with athletes across a wide variety of sports via her role in her university’s recruiting department. 

Although she didn’t play on an athletic team in college, many of her friends who did turned to her for guidance and wisdom along the way.