Volunteer Spotlight

SNHU alumni volunteers are a vital asset to our community, helping at events, mentoring students, speaking in classes, organizing service projects, and so much more. We're proud to recognize outstanding members of our community who make an impact every day, strengthening the SNHU experience and improving the world around us.

If you know a volunteer who deserves to be celebrated, please email us with the nominee's name, class year, and a brief description of the ways he or she has contributed. 

Terri Grijalva ’19MBA

Get to Know Our February 2025 Honoree!

Meet Terri – a passionate SNHU volunteer and vice president of our Alumni Board of Directors, who is deeply inspired by the university's mission of transforming lives through education and community support. She finds great joy in connecting and growing with others by participating in all different types of volunteer efforts. Check out our Q&A below to learn even more about what drives Terri's commitment to giving back and helping those in need.

What inspires you to volunteer with SNHU?

I’m inspired to volunteer because of SNHU’s mission — which is all about transforming people’s lives. Yes, it is about supporting individuals with higher education goals; but it is also about enabling people to be their best selves and supporting the communities where they live, work, and worship.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering with SNHU?

I enjoy meeting with students and learning about their goals; and I love meeting alumni and understanding the different adventures they have been on. I think we all bring something unique to the table — informed by our experiences, our perspective, and our education. Being able to volunteer at SNHU and meet people from different walks of life is inspirational and helps me remain open minded about how we all can contribute to each others’ path forward.

What results have you seen from your efforts?

I’ve been able to broaden my network, which has resulted in being able to support students and other alumni with their professional and life goals. I've also been able to learn from students and alumni on what I can do differently in my life. Whether it be through my participation on the SNHU Alumni Association Board of Directors, part-time work, or community activism, I know that meeting fellow SNHU colleagues has made me a better person.

Did anything unexpected happen as a result of your volunteer activities?

Volunteering for different events has opened my eyes to what non-profits can do to help the people in their communities. I’ve also met so many people with different life experiences — whether it be walking with Out of the Darkness to support suicide prevention, creating bag lunches for kids with the End 64 hours of Hunger program, or giving blood as a part of the Red Cross Blood Drive. Additionally, giving back has made me reflect on my own experiences. I've dealt with my own set of challenges, so I know the importance of supporting those going through similar struggles. I strive help those who are less fortunate whenever I can. Volunteering has also reinforced the idea that we all have a responsibility to contribute to the communities we're part of and we need to continue to learn from one another's experiences.

Will you continue to volunteer with SNHU? Why?

Absolutely, I will continue to volunteer with SNHU. I'm fortunate that I live close to campus and can help out more regularly with in-person events (i.e. Commencement, Homecoming, and Global Days of Service) in addition to participating in virtual events (i.e. Mock Interviews, TedX, etc.). I think we all owe each other time and grace. We make each other better and strengthen our network when we help one another learn and grow. This is probably my biggest takeaway from being a graduate student at SNHU — put people first (which also happens to be one of the core values of the university).

Will you encourage others to get involved? How?

Being on the SNHU Alumni Board has opened up a lot of opportunities for me to encourage others to get involved. For example, I was able to utilize my network to expand our interview panel for Mock Interviews last year. Another way for me to encourage others is to continue to bring awareness to the various volunteer activities that are in flight and to remind alumni to stay informed by signing up for newsletters and emails. There is a lot going on at our campus AND a lot going on across the country. I'd bet that most of us work alongside SNHU alumni and we don't even realize it; and when we enable our students and alumni to make those connections, people will get more involved. I’m looking forward to seeing how we can all make this happen!

Past Volunteer Spotlight Honorees