Congratulations to Alexander Maldonado Salas, the College of Humanities Outstanding Senior for Spring 2025!
Maldonado is graduating with a triple major in Applied Humanities, with a Business Administration emphasis, Spanish with a Translation and Interpretation emphasis, and Psychology, with a minor in Economics.
Nicholas Ferdinandt, Professor of Practice in the Department of Public and Applied Humanities, said from the start, Maldonado was highly motivated and driven in the classroom
“Mr. Maldonado’s dedication to and engagement in humanities enterprises embodies the spirit and values of the humanities broadly defined—learning and sharing through applying what you’ve learned to advance the interests of people around you with empathy, intercultural awareness, and selfless service,” Ferdinandt said.
Outside the classroom, Maldonado served as the Project Research Lead for the 100 Thousand Strong Cacao for Peace Program, traveling to Colombia, and a student ambassador for the College of Humanities and worked on campus as an Educational Peer Mentor at the SALT Center, Market Research Student Analyst with Tech Launch Arizona, among other activities.
“People know Mr. Maldonado to be enterprising, dedicated, and welcoming. He’s a person who looks out for others and tries to find solutions to human problems,” Ferdinandt said. “He also proved himself to be a persevering, hard worker, who didn’t just seek to learn, but also to apply his learning during the semester.”
In his convocation address, Maldonado told fellow graduates that “if there’s one word that sums up what brought me to this moment, it’s perseverance. Not talent. Not luck.”
“Balancing three majors, various internships and part-time work has not been easy, but it has instilled in me a deep sense of resilience and purpose that has allowed me to prosper and learn to overcome any challenges and seek innovative and creative solutions to any problems that I am faced with,” he said. “The humanities have been a constant source of inspiration and strength, reminding me of the power of stories, community, and adaptability in overcoming challenges.”
After graduating, Maldonado will begin a master’s degree program in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Arizona State University, with plans for a career in advancing workplace equity and fostering cross-cultural understanding.
“Studying in the Humanities has been life-changing. Not only did it allow me to major in interesting subjects, but it has also taught me to think critically, combine human elements and apply them to any setting, and to see the world — and the people in it — through a more intercultural competent perspective. Sharing this journey with so many brilliant and passionate minds demonstrates the potential that the Humanities can have in the world,” he said.