ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Anel Guel
What is your current occupation?
Community Engagement Organizer, City of Grand Rapids
What city do you reside in?
Grand Rapids, Michigan
What was your Major(s)/Minor(s) and years you attended Grand Valley?
Major: International Relations, Minor: Geography – GIS Emphasis. 2007-2011.
Did you receive any Honors or Awards while a student?
I was the recipient of the S3 (Student Summer Scholars) Grant which funded
my field research in the Peruvian Amazon in 2009. My junior year I was also a
STAIR (Students in Trans-Atlantic International Relations) grant
recipient, which funded my studies in a yearlong study abroad program in
Hungary and Poland.
What was your campus involvement while a student at GVSU?
I feel like I was more involved with studying abroad than actual campus involvement. I did however, have a radio
show my freshman year through GVSU’s Whale Radio. My segment was called “Pico de Gallo.” I was also part of
Latino Student Union, as well as the International Geographic Honor Society.
Did you study Abroad while at GVSU? Where did you go?
I did! Four times.
2008 – Peruvian Amazon
2009 – Peruvian Amazon again, but this time it was fully funded through S3
2009-2010 – Hungary and Poland
What is your favorite ESP/TRiO SSS Memory?
-Hearing Karen Mead’s crazy stories about her service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Africa. Interestingly enough,
after graduating I signed up to be a Peace Corps volunteer; I served in the Central Highlands of Peru 2012-2014.
-Marnie Parris-Bingle bumping music in her office as I kept her up-to-date on my classes, grades, etc.
-The field trip we took to the Museum of African American History in Detroit. Afterwards we hit up a soul food
restaurant. I believe Chris Rock happened to be there and people started snapping pictures left and right.
In what ways do you feel ESP/TRiO SSS helped you as a student? As a professional?
First and foremost, ESP helped keep me on track with grades, graduating on time, required courses, etc. My
advisors motivated me to think BIG – I applied for a Fulbright Grant, Peace Corps, graduate schools, etc. ESP’s
work on back end stuff (grades, research, etc.) helped keep me a competitive applicant.
Beyond the pragmatic, ESP gave me a place of belonging, and reassured me my success was both wanted and
needed.
Can you give some advice to current TRiO SSS students?
Remain curious and take advantage of all of GVSU’s resources. Also, seek to be uncomfortable as those times offer
the most opportunity for personal and professional growth.
If you could give advice to GVSU/Administrators on supporting TRiO programs, what would that advice be?
With today’s political arena, stay sharp on future funding for TRiO. Collect success data to prove TRiO works, and
think of other donors if government cuts are ever to occur. I’m sure you guys are already on top of this. Also, hire
local people of color!
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