Building Trust and Belonging Through Advising with Lizbeth

Building Trust and Belonging Through Advising with Lizbeth

Lizbeth Marte earned her B.A. in Psychology from Queens College and is pursuing her MSEd in Higher Education Administration at Baruch College. As a Peer Leader in our College Allies  program, she draws on her experience as a first-generation college student to support others—sharing resources, creating spaces where students feel seen and heard, and making college systems easier to navigate. She’s also a member of the YRC, helping to shape research that elevates student voice and experiences.

Recently, Lizbeth shared her “philosophy of academic advising” in a written reflection for a class: “Advising, to me, is a form of activism and care. It’s about holding space for students while working to dismantle the barriers they face.”

Her approach in advising is all about relationship-building, making college processes easier to navigate, and showing up for students—especially those figuring things out on their own. Whether she’s meeting with someone one-on-one or working to make advising better across campus, she’s focused on making things easier to understand and fostering a sense of belonging for every student.

Looking ahead, Lizbeth hopes to take on a leadership role in student affairs—designing equity-driven programs, mentoring new advisors, and helping transform institutions so that support systems are built with students in mind, not around them. She’s especially committed to creating spaces where first-gen, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and neurodiverse students can thrive without having to minimize who they are.

“My goal is not only to advise but to advocate—for students, for inclusive advising practices, and for a system where every student has a chance to thrive.”

For Lizbeth, higher education should be a system that meets students where they are and ensures no one is overlooked because they didn’t have the right support when they needed it.