Cherishing memories, new and old, with life-long connections

Meet Regla Perez Pino ’89, ’90W (MS), a director of school counseling and proud Delta Zeta

Share a bit about yourself! What are you up to now?

I am the proud parent of Martín, my 21-year-old son, a junior at Ithaca College. He gives me the excuse to travel upstate and visit Rochester, where I have friends who became my family. I currently live in Alexandria, near Mount Vernon. The historic aspect of the region brings about lots of charm amid the busyness of a city.

I currently serve as the director of school counseling at Gar-Field Senior High School in Prince William County Schools, the second-largest school division in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As Director, I support all areas pertinent to student services for over 2,400 students plus a pre-k. Gar-Field Senior High School is an IB World School and a Title I school. We are a diverse community with hundreds of languages represented by our families.

What are your most cherished memories from the University of Rochester?

I have many cherished memories from my days at the University. Whether related to student activities or my work-study with dining services. I remember launching the first Tropicana, a festival hosted by S.A.L.S.A. that became a tradition. I also remember working at the Rochester Conference, a program that ran during the period preceding the beginning of the spring semester. One year, the theme was “Creation” and with dining services, I hosted a booth at Danforth with one of the managers. We focused on creating natural beauty products ranging from rose water to facial scrubs. I remember spending time during winter break shopping in warehouses back at home in New York City, searching for miniature jars for the potions that we were about to create.

I remember living in the I.L.C., the International Living Center, my sophomore year and being part of the International Students Association. I learned to eat with chopsticks and met friends who taught me how to make baklava and curries. I vividly recall living on the I.L.C. at Anderson Towers and walking to Phase for sorority events at night in the dark. There was a small Facilities or Transportation building that we crossed during our travels; I remember telling my sorority sister who also lived in Anderson that there was a ghost in that building. We would sprint in fear to either Towers or Phase depending on if we were coming or going to the Delta Zeta floor in Phase. There was never a ghost, just a macrame planter hanging in the Facilities building’s window! Frankly, it was more fun believing that it was a ghost! Another cherished memory was painting the tunnels with the sorority, especially the year that Delta Zeta developed the Greek God contest.

I was quite active in student activities. I remember meeting friends at the Lollipop Clock and hanging out at the café inside the Wilson Commons lower area between classes or napping in the Welles Brown Room. Studying at the library’s old stacks was also much fun. And being the first group to evaluate/taste Jolt Cola, twice the sugar, twice the caffeine during finals one year! I spent much of my time working for dining services, primarily at Douglass. I still remember my first shift freshman year: it was Breakfast, and we were making donuts. There I met someone who became my dearest friend, he was a year older, in a fraternity, and my shift supervisor. I quickly learned the ropes and was promoted to various positions including grill cook and the coveted ‘cook’s ass’ or cook’s assistant, and later student supervisor. While in graduate school, I became a student manager and was wearing the official polyester blue skirts with the grown-ups who held ‘real jobs.’

How did campus life and any co-curricular involvement (clubs, organizations, teams, etc.) impact your personal and professional growth?

During my junior year, I was admitted to the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, now Warner School’s 3-2 program in Human Development. Initially, I specialized in higher education counseling. While working at the University in the Office of Minority Student Affairs as an H.E.O.P. counselor, I collaborated with Dr. Bonnie Rubenstein, a former professor, and Director of School Counseling at the Rochester City School District, I went back to complete the necessary coursework to earn the school counseling credential. Karen Mackie, at the time a graduate student working on her doctorate, was an incredible professional who taught me how to work with clients in a counseling setting, and Dr. Fred Jefferson, a remarkable leader whom I first met as a pre-frosh during the ECO program. While on the 3-2 program I was fortunate enough to take several group and culture courses with him.

How did your experience at the University of Rochester influence your life?

I have switched careers and have circled back to my formal training in counseling. I started as a higher education counselor and later became a school counselor in Rochester. I maintained connections following my graduate degree with the University. After the ice storm, I moved back to Puerto Rico where I was raised but never lived as an adult. I am first generation Cuban American, born in NYC and raised in Puerto Rico. I finished high school in NYC and from there attended the University of Rochester. In Puerto Rico, I served as the director of the Meditation Center at the Superior Court Bayamon Part. I was able to secure that position thanks to the volunteer work that I previously held in Rochester.

I believe that all the various activities, opportunities, and engagements including, of course, the coursework that I experienced while at University, enabled me to be what I am today.

While working in the Mediation Center, I married and moved back to the mainland, specifically to Northern Virginia. Somehow, I fell into the corporate world. I held numerous positions of increased responsibility at a multinational telecommunications company for over a decade. I did not have an MBA; I had an MS from Rochester. I am convinced that I was able to be successful and lead various organizations at the multinational corporation thanks to the skills I learned in Rochester and the Meliora values.

Reminiscing about that period when I had the best time of my life forging memories to cherish a lifetime. Whether celebrating a major milestone birthday or my son’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor, my University family has always been there to support me. In good times or when I need advice there is always an alumni friend that I have called on for support.

What sparked your initial interest in volunteering with the University? What role(s) have you held?

My primary volunteer roles today include working with the Office of Admissions and the Alumni Office serving on the class reunion committee. This year I will be celebrating my 35^th reunion. I have volunteered in several class reunion committees in years past. To me, it is important to maintain an active connection with the University because it helped me grow and develop and more importantly it made me ‘ever better.’

I have the pleasure of working directly with Beth Luke, a formidable resource at the University who ensures alumni volunteers supporting admissions are kept abreast of trends, timelines, and overall information to help make the interview season more enjoyable. I remember as an undergraduate supporting the Admissions office by calling students, traveling to NYC with the alumni reps for events, or hosting prospective students for a weekend.

What’s the most rewarding part of staying connected with your alma mater?

To me, the most rewarding part of staying connected with the University is knowing that I am contributing to something that gave me so much. Giving back is part of who I am, and that, I owe to those University values, coupled with my Catholic faith. I would be remiss if I failed to share that one of the more serious memories that I cherished, was attending Mass with President O’Brien on Sundays at the lower level of the Interfaith Chapel, sharing peace and communion with him and Father Bill.

To my fellow alumni and friends, I encourage you to consider serving the University in some capacity. There are multiple ways of engaging and giving back. Consider your strengths and decide how to support the various campaigns whether you do so with your time or contributing to the various financial gifts.