Karol Guerra
As a first-generation student at Tennessee Tech University, and founder of Tech’s affiliate chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda, Karol Guerra dreamed of bringing the value of familia to the university.
Guerra was a Biology/General Health Studies student who graduated in Fall 2024. When she first came to Tech, Guerra soon realized that, what at first felt like homesickness, was actually a gap in cultural connectedness that she could bridge with a little help from her friends and mentors on campus.
“I thought clubs, at first, but I realized if I did that, what would make it any different?” Guerra said.
After doing more research, Guerra considered starting a sorority, but decided she wanted something more inclusive to reflect the ideal of familia she was trying to create. That’s when she found Alpha Psi Lambda.
A-Psi (Alpha Psi Lambda’s official nickname) “mentioned a strong emphasis on familia and being co-ed,” Guerra said.
The organization is “a national co-ed fraternity that focuses on serving Latino communities, fostering leadership, cultural awareness, and academic excellence.”
They encourage the development of future leaders who will make a positive impact in others’ lives, while staying true to their cultural roots.
When asked to describe their experience as a minority student at Tech, Guerra said, “At first, it was hard.”
Even as a driven, multi-faceted individual, Guerra still encountered difficulties that couldn't be faced alone. After graduating high school and making it through the recent pandemic, preparing for college was stressful.
“I had unwavering encouragement through faculty and administrators that told me to keep going when it was hard,” Guerra said. “As I got more involved, I saw minority as a label. It was up to me to decide what I would do as a “minority” at the university.”
Guerra ended up creating a legacy.
She founded Tennessee Tech’s chapter of Alpha Psi Lambda on December 2, 2023, and can proudly describe it as the first of this multicultural organization on campus, and the only affiliate chapter in the entire state of Tennessee.
The co-ed fraternity started with five founding members from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. During the semester the organization was founded, Guerra and her members worked overtime to promote A-Psi, hoping to show other minority students on campus there was a place they could foster a sense of community while staying true to their cultural roots.
“I worked with my members to establish a two week recruiting window with events happening every day after school. We had individual and group events to target both the introvert and extrovert students at Tennessee Tech.”
Of these events, Guerra’s favorite was Paint Night. At the end of this busy week of organizing and planning, Tech’s chapter of A-Psi got its first recruited member, and has since grown to over 10 members.
During this experience, Guerra discovered that starting a brand new chapter of a Greek organization on campus could be challenging.
“The paperwork portion of starting a fraternity was very detail oriented and the wrong check box could result in no fraternity or a delay in the process,” Guerra said.
Beyond that, there was the matter of recruitment. Guerra overcame these challenges by being diligent with the paperwork, and by reaching out to the campus community for recruitment with an infectious attitude and smile.
For other students interested in starting their own organization at Tech, Guerra suggests doing your research.
“Focus on building a strong foundation of values, leadership, and inclusivity,” she said.
There are also legal and financial requirements to consider. Guerra also recommends finding a mentor to guide you through the process, whether that be an administrator or a professor whose support and encouragement you can rely on.
The faculty at Tennessee Tech were indispensable for anchoring Guerra’s motivations and supporting her goals.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Cynthia Polk-Johnson, Mrs. Charria Campbell, Mrs. Maria Baltazar, Mr. Carlos Galindo, Dr. Rob Owens, and retired Mrs. Johnson for their invaluable time, support, and unwavering dedication to DEI [diversity, equity, inclusion] efforts, as well as their advocacy for minorities,” Guerra said. “Their efforts place them in a unique position, offering a first-hand perspective on the experiences of minority groups at the university.”
She also wanted to thank Kathryn Rust, Jennifer Meadows, Maria Cristina Humita, and Paige Pointer, for pushing her forward towards her goals, and Dr. Jeffrey Miller for “allowing me to continue doing what I love doing, which is performing on the field even if I have a knee brace or kt tape all over my arm.”
As a first-generation college graduate, Guerra had encouraging words for other members of the Latino community interested in pursuing a college education.
“Remind others that your dreams are valid no matter where they come from, they belong and deserve a place in higher education. It's okay to take it one step at a time and every small step counts toward success,” she said. “Your culture is a source of strength, resilience and creativity that will help [you] navigate [your] journey.”
“You are not alone,” she continued. “Seek out mentors, community, and support, because asking for help is a sign of strength.”
“And ultimately, ‘Si Se Puede!’ y ‘Viva la raza!’”
[ translation: “If possible!” and “Long live the race!” ]