Estefania Alicea, a graduate student in Worcester State University’s School Psychology program and graduate assistant at the Binienda Center for Civic Engagement, has built their academic and professional journey around community connection and student empowerment. A Springfield native and Clark University alum, Nia first became involved in civic work through the Worcester Education Collaborative. Their passion for understanding people and systems, sparked by their undergraduate studies in cultural psychology, has continued to shape their approach to both school psychology and civic engagement. At Worcester State, they support students preparing for the Community Fellows program, develop trainings rooted in psychological and developmental theory, and help foster meaningful partnerships between students and local organizations. Through their work at the Binienda Center, Nia has helped lead voter registration efforts on campus, guided reflection sessions for student fellows, and strengthened Worcester State’s community ties. They emphasize that civic engagement is not only about political participation, but also about staying informed, building relationships, and creating space for reflection and learning. Their ongoing research on discrimination and university inclusivity highlights the importance of visibility and awareness of campus resources. For Nia, their identity puts them in the position where they feel they have to be involved in civic engagement because the communities they are a part of are often the most underserved communities. Looking ahead, Nia hopes to continue serving Worcester’s diverse communities as a licensed school psychologist, connecting families to the same community organizations they’ve worked so closely with and encouraging students to begin their own journey into civic engagement.
