One year ago, Erick Ramirez ’29 arrived at Noche de Bienvenida as an incoming first-year student, eager to meet classmates and begin his journey at University of the Pacific. 

This year, the civil engineering major returned in a different role: welcoming nearly 30 new Latinx students and their families to the tradition that helped him feel at home at Pacific. 

That spirit of belonging has defined Noche de Bienvenida since Board of Regents Chair Leticia Robles ’89 and her husband, Jorge ’90, first opened their home to incoming students and their families five years ago. The annual gathering is designed to foster connection between students and Spanish-speaking families before the academic year begins.

“I hope the welcoming community at Pacific never changes,” Ramirez said. “Everybody uplifts one another, and we all want to see each other succeed.”

Robles said Noche de Bienvenida is more than a welcome event—it's the first step in building a support system for students and their families. By connecting them with faculty, staff, administrators and current students before classes begin, the gathering helps foster relationships while ensuring families, including those who primarily speak Spanish, feel seen and supported as they begin their Pacific journey. 

“This is a way to have direct impact on students and families in our community,” Robles said. “If we ensure these students go through Pacific and graduate, then they will stay in our community, and they will impact our community in such positive ways. Not only that, but they will impact their families and future generations.”

The evening is a collaborative effort across the university, including staff, admissions counselors, current students and administrators from the Office of Enrollment Strategy.

“At Pacific, we value nothing more than our students,” Allison Dumas ’95, associate vice president of community engagement and enrollment strategy, told students at the event. “Our students are Pacific, and that’s why we do what we do. We are your family and will be celebrating you in four years when you graduate and then seeing you at every homecoming because we always come back. We are Tigers for life.”

The parents of incoming first-year student Aaliyah Guerrero ’30 shared their gratitude for admission counselor Danny Ramirez and Director of Enrollment Access and Inclusion Mario Fuentez ’02, ’11 who helped them navigate their journey to Pacific.

“We actually went to three different universities,” said Gabriel Guerrero, Aaliyah’s father. “At those, you just didn’t feel at home, but the moment we walked onto Pacific’s campus and the welcome we received, that was it. We were excited to be here.”

The relationships built during Noche de Bienvenida continue long after the event concludes. Robles stays in touch with each cohort of students, offering encouragement and reminding them they are part of the Pacific family.

“To the families, please know your students are never alone. There are faculty, staff, advisors, mentors and friends across campus who are deeply committed to helping them succeed,” Robles said. “To the students, remember that an entire university is invested in seeing you walk across that graduation stage.”

Learn more about the support services and resources available to students.