Juan Flores, MSW (he/him/el)
OCAT Coordinator, Student Success and Community Initiatives
CRU (Culturas de las Razas Unidas) Advisor)
floresj2@msu.edu
Juan Flores Grew up in Southwest Detroit near Mexican Town and credits his success to his upbringing in Detroit. He is extremely grateful for the circumstances, times, places and environments that surrounded his coming of age because without those experiences he would not be the person he is today. He is the oldest of ten siblings and was the first in his family to graduate from high school when he crossed the stage Detroit Southwestern. Juan was an average student who had no plans to attend college after high school but by pure coincidence he met Lucinda Briones, a recruiter for Michigan State University during the fall of his senior year. Lucinda’s message was so profound that it ended up altering the course of his life. Juan was accepted to Michigan State University and earned his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice four years later and a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work three years after.
Throughout his undergraduate and graduate experience at Michigan State University Juan was heavily involved in leadership and extracurricular activities that benefited the campus community. These experiences later led to the realization that his calling was to work in higher education. His passion for helping students navigate campus and figure out their career aspirations landed him his first job as an academic advisor for the College of Natural Science after graduating with his Masters. Two years later Juan accepted a Coordinator position in the Division of Student Affairs and Services Office of Cultural and Academic Transitions (OCAT). Accepting the job at OCAT was a way to give back for all the assistance and leadership opportunities he received from the office during his undergraduate years.
OCAT has provided Juan numerous opportunities to enhance the student experience in various capacities. In his OCAT role, Juan serves as a coordinator for Student Success Initiatives i.e. Intercultural Aide Program, Maximizing Academic Growth in College Transition program, Annual Día de la Mujer Conference, Latino Student Mentoring program, Annual Thanksgiving Day Unity Dinner, Leadership Institute, and Advisor to Council of Racial & Ethnic Students group Culturas de las Raza Unidas (C.R.U.) Latino Student Organization. Additionally, Juan appreciates the opportunity to have been a Co-Director and current Instructor of the International Engagement in Mexico (IEM) Education Abroad program which is one of the larges most diverse programs offered. Juan is a huge advocate for experiential learning and is honored to support students study abroad aspirations.