September 30, 2025

Sonia Trevino, director of Ferris State’s Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center, recognized by Vive Michigan as one of the 25 Most Influential Latinos in West Michigan

Sonia Trevino, director of Ferris State University's Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center (HLCC), has been named one of the 25 Most Influential Latinos in West Michigan for 2025 by Vive Michigan.

Trevino and her fellow 2025 honorees will be recognized at a gala celebration on October 10 at the JW Mariott, coinciding with the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

One of the Michigan’s leading Latino magazines, Vive Michigan started the annual honors event in 2023 to spotlight Hispanic/Latino leaders who are shaping their local communities and the state for the better while inspiring others to do the same.

“This recognition is deeply humbling because it reflects not just my work, but the commitment Ferris State University has made to the Hispanic/Latino community of West Michigan by supporting the HLCC on campus and our programming,” Trevino said. “To be recognized alongside other leaders from my community is a reminder that our voices matter, our contributions are shaping the future, and our presence through our work truly opens doors for the next generation of leaders.”

Trevino has directed the HLCC since the fall of 2022, serving first in an interim capacity before accepting the position permanently following a competitive nationwide search. Under her leadership, the Center has grown into a holistic support system that helps Hispanic/Latino students at Ferris State succeed academically, cultivate a sense of belonging and cultural heritage, build community across campus, and develop confidence and leadership skills to carry into their careers.

The HLCC supports student-led cultural events such as an annual Cesar Chavez Advocacy march around campus, leadership workshops, and mentoring initiatives like the Ferris Familia, which connects students with role models and peers who understand their journey.

“Seeing students who once walked in feeling unsure of their place on campus now serving as peer mentors, leading events, or advocating for others is a clear sign of success and the role the Center plays for students,” Trevino said. “Ultimately, our greatest achievement is creating a space where students feel both represented and empowered to make their mark on Ferris State.”

Trevino has also extended the impact of Ferris State and the HLCC into more areas of West Michigan through strong community partnerships with organizations like Latin Americans United for Progress, the Hispanic Center of West Michigan, and West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Each collaboration has been intentionally designed to expand students’ network of peers and mentors and create opportunities for them to engage in internships, professional development workshops, and community service.

“By building these relationships, students gain access to role models, employers, and community leaders who share their cultural experiences and can guide them on their journey. That makes our learning environments more productive, because students come back to campus with new perspectives, stronger confidence, and a deeper sense of belonging,” Trevino said. “It’s about knowing that they are part of a thriving Hispanic/Latino community across West Michigan and that Ferris is supporting their journey by providing these opportunities for them.”

Trevino’s dedication to supporting students is rooted in her own journey. Growing up in a small Texas town near the Mexico border, she was shown the value of education and community service by her mother and other mentors and channeled those experiences into a career in higher education.

After becoming the first person in her family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree—earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Texas—Trevino worked in a variety of roles at colleges and universities in the state before moving to Michigan in January of 2022 to take a position at Ferris State as an academic advisor in the College of Arts, Sciences and Education. In that role, she was able to build the same kinds of close relationships with Ferris State students that are now at the heart of the HLCC’s mission.

Moving forward, she’s relishing the opportunity to continue growing the Center’s support systems and capacity to drive positive change at Ferris State and beyond.

“Ferris State’s history of serving first-generation and diverse student populations is something that resonated deeply with me as both a first-generation college graduate and someone passionate about creating pathways for student success,” Trevino said.  

“Leading the center gives me the opportunity to honor my own heritage while creating a space that uplifts and amplifies the voices of not only Hispanic/Latino students, but all students, ensuring they know they belong here and can thrive both within our campus community and wherever their career pathway takes them.”