Jonathon Salinas
Year Graduated: 
2018

TAY PrEP & HIV Benefits Coordinator

San Francisco AIDS Foundation

Job description

I work in HIV prevention and treatment.

Why did you choose this program?

With a diverse scholarship and areas of study as well as small class sizes, every class I took was engaging beyond what I could have hoped for. The Spanish program and World Languages Department offer many opportunities to study language, literature, and culture in a truly meaningful way.

How did this program prepare you for your job?

My courses, professors, and classmates prepared me to pay attention to detail on projects or assignments. In my job, we are looking for specific details in insurance benefits to get clients connected to HIV prevention and treatment options. Working with clients who are seeking asylum from Spanish-speaking countries allows me to connect with them deeper than their medical care in order to connect them to social services as well. Outside of speaking Spanish, I am able to support my team by correcting any marketing materials of our services to ensure they are culturally relevant.

What did you enjoy most about the program?

The connections I made with my professors and classmates are what made my time at Humboldt extremely memorable. The conversations had, films watched, and (many) books read all expanded my understanding of our local communities as well as other countries impacted by Spanish and Portuguese colonialism. My professors were all extremely passionate about every course which made me want to engage further. Some of my favorite memories of the program include the León Study Abroad program, the Latino Film Festival, and a French for Spanish Speakers course I took.

What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?

The World Languages Department and Spanish Department offer more opportunities for real-life application than you may think. I got to study abroad, meet professors and journalists from other countries, teach Spanish to fifth graders, and gain a deeper appreciation for the diverse cultures of Latin America. Not only will you leave this program with applicable experience for the job search, but also life experience that you will carry with you for many years.

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