Meet Andreina Rosa

Andreina Idalia Rosa has always used her position as an advisor to empower others.

“It’s something that I’ve always done since I was little, and now I just have a formal title,” she said. “I’ve always assumed the role of an advisor.”

Rosa, a Bronx, N.Y. native, is a Binghamton University alumna. She graduated from Harpur College in 2010 with a degree in political science. Rosa then went on to law school where she received her Juris Doctor at Michigan State University College of Law. She returned to Binghamton for the spring 2017 semester, but this time as the new pre-law advisor. Rosa said one of the best things about coming back to her alma mater is being able to guide students as she was guided by her advisors.

“I owe Binghamton a lot,” she said. “I credit them with my own success, because I loved the mentors that I had from the EOP counselors to the Harpur advisors, as well. My strong work ethics and commitment to students’ success is in large part because of my experience as a former student. I want to be able to instill that same type of support and respect that I’ve had from my own mentors and be able to pass that on to the students here.”

One of her mentors is Joanna Cardona-Lozada, who is a counselor for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), as well as the coordinator of the EOP Tutorial Center. Rosa met Cardona her sophomore year of high school, and worked with her throughout her college career. Now they are fellow advisors.

Rosa has been a mentor and created initiatives to benefit others wherever she goes. While she was a student at Michigan State University College of Law, she created a student organization.

“As founder of Wellness In Practice, I focused on how wellness and mental health can be a barrier to law students’ advancement in the legal profession. My goal was to create a safe space for students to talk about their own personal, mental and emotional issues through effective and high impact initiatives,” Rosa said. “That later inspired my decision to start my own college preparatory program in my hometown in the Bronx,” following her graduation from law school.

Project DreamAIR, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization that recruits girls from middle schools in the Bronx and mentors them through their senior year of high school. The AIR in DreamAIR stands for achieving independence and resilience — and are also Rosa’s initials.

“My organization is in its second year and it is thriving,” she said. “I didn’t have a business background; all I had was passion. I was able to translate that into this organization. I am who I am, and I strive to become a better woman for these young girls. They don’t have to be a statistic in the Bronx. They can strive to become more, to do more because it is possible.”

The project consists of three phases: wellness, mindfulness, and business. The 15 girls included in DreamAIR learn how to develop skills such as good decision-making, and more practical skills, such as how to interview well. They meet twice a month, once to develop these skills and another time to give back to their community through community service.

“The most rewarding aspect of the program is the advising part,” she said. “I just love being that positive role model and being able to be their biggest cheerleader and cheer them on every step of the way.”

Rosa said she hopes to empower the students at Binghamton, just like those in Project DreamAIR.

Although she helps students with things such as financial aid packages and applying to law school, Rosa said her biggest priority is helping students realize what exactly they want to pursue in the future.

“I want to be able to give them as much information and resources as possible, so they can feel empowered and make their own decisions as to whether or not law school is right for them.” she said. “Everyone has a unique story to share and they have almost an obligation to themselves to realize and maximize their potential.”

Rosa is now working on a few different initiatives to benefit pre-law students. One is a summer research opportunity with an oral argument component for students who have made the decision to attend law school but who have not had any formal legal experience.

A lot of the projects I have going are geared toward helping students figure out their passions, career goals and personal goals. It is not just about the law school process. It is also about encouraging students to think about their legacy and living a positive, healthy and meaningful life, Being able to identify a problem and come up with creative solutions for the students is what I love doing.

Andreina Rosa ‘10

Rosa said that through her pre-law advising technique, she will give students information they need when making important decisions about their future.

“I speak to a lot of students about their interests and passions, and focus on their strengths,” she said. “Day to day is about figuring out what the students want and what they see themselves doing. Of course these decisions are not made in a single advising session. However, if I can get students to at least start thinking about what matters to them, then I’ve done my job.”

When she’s not mentoring students, Rosa is working to publish her first book at the end of this year about female empowerment and she is hoping to launch two other start-up business ideas in 2018. She is also looking forward to running a 5K with Cardona-Lozada and joining a local softball team.

“If it wasn’t for the mentors and guidance I had from the faculty and staff at Binghamton, I don’t think I’d be where I am today,” she said. “I think the best part about coming back is realizing that I’ve grown so much. Once you figure out who you are and what your passions are, you can take that anywhere you go. Home is where my passion is.”