Criollo Ventres Named Master of Public Administration Student of the Year
Esthela Criollo Ventres is the MPA Student of the Year. She also volunteers at El Zocalo by helping them get health care services and as a translator at several local clinics. Photo by Ben Krain.
Esthela Criollo Ventres, a recent graduate of 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, has been honored as Student of the Year in the Master of Public Administration program at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.
鈥淩eceiving an award was wonderful for me, but unexpected,鈥� Criollo Ventres said. 鈥淭he university has been very supportive. I鈥檓 so grateful for my advisors, my professors, and my classmates. The program has been great.鈥�
Born and raised in El Salvador in Central America, Criollo Ventres earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in public accounting and a master鈥檚 degree in educational technology. She worked for the Salvadoran Ministry of Education for over 15 years.
In 2011, Criollo Ventres met her husband, Dr. Bill Ventres, at a restaurant on the Pacific coast. He had come to El Salvador on a Fulbright scholarship intending to stay for one year, but ended up staying for five.
鈥淲hen I came to Little Rock, I couldn鈥檛 speak much English,鈥� Criollo Ventres said. 鈥淲e met in El Salvador, and my husband could speak Spanish well. Five years later when we got married, I said I want to learn English and I want to get a degree in the U.S. Having a bicultural family gave me the motivation I needed.鈥�
In 2017, Criollo Ventres and her husband moved to Little Rock, and she entered the Intensive English Language Program (IELP) at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.
鈥淟earning a different language as an adult is hard, and it takes time and patience,鈥� Criollo Ventres said. 鈥淗aving a supportive university has been really important. The Communications Skills Center, the IELP, and Ottenheimer Library have given me a lot of help and support.鈥�
While earning her master鈥檚 degree, Criollo Ventres has been volunteering at free or low-cost clinics that serve immigrants in Little Rock, like Harmony Health Clinic at 糖心Vlog传媒MS 12th Street Health and Wellness Center.
鈥淓sthela is simply amazing,鈥� said Dr. Jerry Stevenson, professor and graduate coordinator of the MPA program. 鈥淗er graduate work has been nothing but stellar. And best of all, she is genuinely kind and giving, always willing to assist other students when needed.鈥�
After volunteering for one year at El Z贸calo Immigrant Resource Center, Criollo Ventres became the organization鈥檚 health program coordinator.
鈥淓l Z贸calo means town square in Spanish,鈥� Criollo Ventres said. 鈥淚t works with the Mexican Consulate to provide basic needs for immigrants. We have a food pantry, provide used clothes, and serve as a resource referral center. We help immigrants access聽 community services and navigate the system when they don鈥檛 speak English.鈥�
In her position, Criollo Ventres has seen firsthand the difficulties that immigrants face when looking for healthcare. Because of the language barrier and high cost, many immigrant families are unable to communicate with healthcare professionals and need interpreters to speak with their healthcare professionals.
鈥淚n the clinics and hospitals that I work with, I am trying to help immigrants connect with their healthcare professionals,鈥� Criollo Ventres said. 鈥淲hen immigrants hear someone speak in their native language, it gives them hope. In many cases, they don鈥檛 feel like they belong to this community. They feel isolated. When someone speaks their language, they feel hope and they feel better just because somebody cares. The sense of being a part of the community is a huge need.鈥�
In addition to her MPA, Criollo Ventres is finishing her studies at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock to gain a graduate certificate in nonprofit organization management. She hopes to find employment locally in the public or non-for-profit sector where she can put her skills, knowledge, experience, and education to work to help people.
Criollo Ventres鈥� long-term goal is to start an educational nonprofit in El Salvador.
鈥淗aving a nonprofit in my own country is my dream for my retirement,鈥� she said. 鈥� I want to find a way to help people. If people in El Salvador have their basic needs met, maybe they won鈥檛 have to cross the border and put their lives in danger. This is my dream for the future.鈥�
