From the South Side of Chicago to the White House

by Pamme Boutselis ’15 ’17G

When Maribel Duran ’16 crossed the stage at Commencement 2017, graduating magna cum laude, it was a journey 17 years in the making. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, both of whom were never able to move beyond middle school, Duran and her sisters were encouraged to work hard and to earn degrees after high school.

A bright student from the south side of Chicago, with tremendous possibility, the path to college seemed a sure one - at least until Duran learned she was pregnant shortly after graduating from high school. Disheartened, she was most upset about disappointing her parents, but dedicated to being the best mother she could be.

Working for the Chicago school district, the third largest in the country, Duran looked for mentors, asked their advice, and tried to emulate the behaviors she admired.

From her first role as an administrative associate in 1998, she eventually became the executive assistant to the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, Arne Duncan. When Duncan was tapped by the Obama administration to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Education, he invited her to come to Washington, D.C., where she progressed through a series of roles with increasing responsibility and influence on education issues impacting the nation’s Latino community.

Although Duran was doing well in her career, a dear friend advised her that she needed to go back to school. Duran decided to pursue an online degree that would help her become a better communicator and revisit her childhood dream of writing, and she enrolled in SNHU’s English Language and Literature program.

In 2014, Duran joined a group of SNHU undergraduate students from the main campus in Manchester, who were studying hunger and homelessness in D.C. on an Alternative Break trip. Duran shared her own story, and was impacted by the students’ passion and commitment to service.

Duran said that her SNHU experience allows her to communicate an honest message about the power of education: that a single mother of two, who had been to three other universities before enrolling at SNHU, managed to navigate her way to success.

After graduating, Duran stayed connected with SNHU, and joined the Board of Trustees in 2017. “It is an honor and privilege to serve. As a Latina, first generation college student, adult learner, and SNHU graduate, this role comes with a tremendous responsibility to represent multiple and diverse communities which continue to face significant obstacles in their efforts to a obtaining a higher education. SNHU continuously works to meet people where they are - regardless of zip code, providing them with ladders to opportunity and a real chance at living their full potential. I look forward to working with my fellow trustees and the leadership at SNHU to continue transforming the lives of students and their families, like it did mine."