Leading with Purpose: Dianyeliz Ozuna Sandoval ’26

Throughout her time at Westfield State, Dianyeliz Ozuna Sandoval, president of the Class of 2026, has incorporated community, leadership, and dedication into her experience at Westfield State University. A social work major with a minor in Spanish, she is deeply involved across campus, serving as president of Phi Alpha Honor Society, vice president of evening programming for the Campus Activities Board, and participating in both the Honors and Leadership, Excellence, Achievement, Diversity (LEAD) Scholars Programs.

Her path to Westfield State began in high school, when an English teacher encouraged her to apply to the LEAD Scholars Summer Bridge Program. The program eases students’ transition into college life through academic, social, and community support. “I took a tour of the campus and fell in love,” she recalled happily. “I told my mom, ‘There is no other option. I’m definitely going to Westfield State.’ And now I am what I am because of this place.”

Because Spanish is her first language, Ozuna Sandoval was initially shy but soon found her voice. She quickly became involved in student organizations, such as the Latinx Association for Empowerment (LAFE), where she served as both the public relations chair and later the president, after finding a friendly community through the Summer Bridge Program. Along with other campus organizations, she also got involved with the Black Student Union.

“Because of the Summer Bridge Program, I knew that I wasn’t alone, so I wanted to be a representation of what it’s like to come from nothing and then build yourself up,” she said about her desire to act as a role model. “When Latinx students have a support system and people to guide them, I think it’s easier to become what you want to be.”

Mentorship has been central to her success. Ozuna Sandoval mentioned feeling tremendously supported by various leaders at the University and named them as influences for the type of leader she’d like to be, citing Marjorie Rodriguez, Assistant Director of Student Access and Support; La-Toya Wilson, Director of the LEAD Scholars Program; Azanda Seymour, Executive Director of the Center for Student Success and Engagement; Joseph Seal, Academic Support Coordinator for the Tutoring and Learning Center; Junior Delgado, Director of the Career Center; Mike Mazeika, Director of the Admission Office; and Dr. Jennifer Propp, her academic advisor and Professor of Social Work, Tyrone Abrahamian, Assistant Director for the LEAD Scholars Program; Maryanisa DelRio, Academic Advisor for the LEAD Scholars Program; and Aaliyah Mercer, Early College Access Advisor, as her biggest inspirations.

Ozuna Sandoval perhaps first discovered her potential for leadership in high school as part of Springfield Center High School’s Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps Program (JROTC), which focuses on honing students’ sense of empowerment, discipline, and leadership abilities. “We did so much community work, and when I noticed that my passion was helping others accomplish things and navigate through life, one of my instructors wanted me to run for the Wing Commander position,” she commented. "He sent me the application for it, and I filled it out even though I first said no because I thought I wasn't good enough... and I eventually became Wing Commander."

Being a first-generation college student has also influenced the way Ozuna Sandoval mentors other students, emphasizing a need for empathy and perspective when meeting with them. “Being a first-generation student puts so much pressure on you in the sense that you might want to do everything yourself and make your peers and family proud, but you still need to learn that you can’t do everything by yourself at the end of the day. Once you become a student leader and people know who you are, you want to keep doing more and then forget you have an academic and personal life and that you need to slow down.”

In the future, Ozuna Sandoval intends to attend Westfield State to obtain a master's degree in social work with the goal of working in higher education. “I love social work so much that I don’t want to stop learning about it. I also want to work in the higher education field, so I feel that I need my master’s degree for that.”

At Westfield State, Ozuna Sandoval has emerged as a potent example of student leadership due to her work ethic, love of social work, and desire to uplift others. She continues to be a living example of resilience, compassion, and empowerment, whether she is mentoring peers, standing up for her community, or preparing for a future in higher education. She demonstrates that when students discover their voice, they can motivate others to follow in their footsteps.

“I always tell my students that asking for help is not a bad thing,” she concludes. "I tell them that they need to learn how to say no and how to have boundaries, because a huge component of being a student leader is having those skills. And not only that, but you also have to learn how to delegate because you can’t do everything by yourself. I keep things like that in mind when mentoring my students so they can lift up others as well as themselves.”