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Profiles

KAREN TRAN ’15

KAREN TRAN ’15

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Anthropology, Journalism; Minor in Human Rights (2015)

SMU Accomplishments: Karen was heavily involved in both academic work and service during her undergraduate career. This Rotunda scholar was also selected for the McNair Scholars Program, a fellowship that allowed her to conduct independent research.  She was also active in her living-learning community, the SMU Service House, as well as Circle K International and Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: After graduation, Karen worked in both nonprofit and business organizations as she leveraged data analytics for social impact. She has worked with design-thinking firm New Sector Alliance/MENTOR Illinois, engaged in data analysis and consulting for Brandtrust, and supported innovative companies like BuildCentral as they fuse tech with design and data. Today she works as Associate Product Manager at Strongarm Technologies. 

Updated January 2022

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Profiles

ASIA RODGERS ’15

ASIA RODGERS ’15

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights; Minor in Women’s and Gender Studies (2015)

SMU Accomplishments: Asia traveled globally with the SMU Human Rights Program to Costa Rica. She engaged the Dallas community by volunteering with anti-trafficking organizations Mosaic Family Services and New Friends New Life. Asia worked to organize the SMU Women’s Symposium through her leadership in SMU Core, the student organization that brings this symposium to life each year. Through the SMU Engaged Learning Fellowship, she founded Art Healing, a program that used art to build the confidence of formerly trafficked or incarcerated women. Through Art Healing, she provided access to art classes and events where these women are able to showcase their creative work.

Through her anti-trafficking initiative, she was selected to attend the eighth annual Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) meeting in 2015. She also served as a campus representative for CGI U, connecting more SMU students to this opportunity. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following graduation, Asia deepened her relationship with Dallas’ nonprofit community. She has worked for more than eight different nonprofits helping them with fundraising strategies, campaign planning, donor engagement, and team building workshops. Her work in the nonprofit/philanthropy sector has included roles with the Texas Women’s Foundation and the Communities Foundation of Texas. Today, Asia continues to fuse her passion for community engagement and data-driven analytics through Asia Rodgers Consulting, her consulting business for nonprofits. 

Learn more about Asia’s post-graduation journey through the following link:

Updated January 2022

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Profiles

OMAR SALAZAR ’19

OMAR SALAZAR ’19

Educational Background: Southern Methodist University: BA in Human Rights; BS in Sociology (2019)

SMU Accomplishments: Omar held many leadership positions across campus, serving the university as a Resident Assistant (RA),a student officer in College Hispanic American Students (CHAS), the First-Year Student Director for Rotunda Scholars, and a member of Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity. He was recognized as a Hunt Leadership Scholar, a student speaker at the university’s MLK Unity Walk, and a recipient of the Dorothy Amman Award for his service to SMU. 

Postbaccalaureate Career: Following graduation, Omar leveraged his passion for social entrepreneurship to create Enlace Solutions LLC, where he consults for businesses and equity-focused nonprofit organizations that provide services or products to Spanish-speaking populations. In addition to serving as the founder and CEO of Enlace, Omar also engaged the Dallas community as an Emerging Leader in Philanthropy Fellow with the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT) and as Campaign Activity and Management Program (CAMP) Fellow. Today, he works as the Communications Manager for Dallas Kids First, a political organization that works to bridge the gap between constituents and high-quality elected school boards. 

Learn more about Omar’s post-graduation journey through the following link:

Updated January 2022