Sonia Jiménez-Calhoun (who goes by SJ) currently works for the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Sciences as their Advising Coordinator where they lead in improving how faculty and staff give advising and support for our undergrads for the Department of Computer Science. 

Originally from Lubbock, Texas, SJ earned their Bachelor’s in Spanish and Psychology from Texas Tech University and their Masters in Higher Education with a focus in Student Affairs from Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge.  SJ has also worked at the McIntire School of Commerce, where they served as the Assistant Director for Undergraduate Admission. There, SJ played an active role in recruiting, yielding, and retaining the commitment of prospective high school students, current undeclared UVA first and second-year students.

Before their time in Virginia, SJ was at Texas A&M University, serving on their Vision 2030 committee on Transformational Education and acting as the Texas A&M Law School University Staff Council (USC) Representative, which included service on a university-wide diversity council. They have also been active nationally with the American College Personnel Association where they serve on the Commission for Assessment and Evaluation and the Coalition for Sexuality and Gender Identities. They are also a member of the Association for Institutional Research, a member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), and a Research Associate with Rankin Climate.