Ariana Nieves, M.S.
Ariana Nieves, M.S. is a University Development Counselor for Northern Indiana at Grand Canyon Education, Inc., where she helps underrepresented and non-traditional learners take the next step in their educational and professional journeys. Since beginning her role in August 2025, Ariana has worked with full-time adult students who never thought they could return to school, guiding them through enrollment in online programs, financial aid and scholarship processes, and integrating education into their busy lives. She partners closely with superintendents, principals, and hospital nursing education departments to support staff and teams in achieving their academic goals, helping them take what can feel like a daunting step back into education.
Ariana has been working in higher education since 2022 and previously served in freshman admissions at the University of Indianapolis, primarily recruiting in the Chicago area and key Indianapolis feeder schools. As a first-generation college student, she is deeply committed to advocating for students and families navigating higher education. Her academic achievements include a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management and a Master of Science in Leadership from the University of Indianapolis—milestones that not only reflect her dedication but also empower her to collaborate effectively with the leaders and organizations she serves.
Known for her integrity, intellectual curiosity, and empathetic approach, Ariana thrives on helping adults pursue degrees, certificates, or other credentials that can transform their lives. She finds profound meaning in seeing her students succeed, whether they are completing a degree they had once left unfinished, earning a certificate, or planning for the next chapter in their careers. Ariana’s work is guided by a genuine passion for empowering others, and she continually seeks innovative ways to make education accessible, manageable, and life-changing for those she serves.
• Advocacy Webinar Series
• Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
• University of Indianapolis - MS, Strategic Leadership and Design
• University of Indianapolis - BS, Business Administration and Management, General
• Ivy Tech Community College - AS, Business Administration and Management, General
• Indianapolis Zoo
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say my success comes from how much I truly care about helping people take the next step in their life. I mean, I know it's education, I'm in higher ed, but I'm genuinely changing these people's lives. I'm working with adults who never thought they could go back, and then they're like, thank you, I would have never done this without you, I didn't even know where to start. This is going to change their life. So I stay consistent, I follow up, I try to meet people where they're at. That's helped me build strong relationships and create real impact in my job, in my experience, and in my life too, because I'm like that with my friends as well. I'm very big on connections, and I care about everyone. Sometimes I even put everyone before myself, which just isn't healthy, but that's just the type of person that I am. That's helped me create the meaningful impact and opportunities that I've faced so far in my career and my life.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Honestly, the best career advice, and I was just talking about this with my colleague the other day, is every no leads to a yes. I know that sounds so cliche, but it's so true. In my professional life, and I'm young, I've only been in the professional world for as long as I've been, and I started my job in higher ed, and I was so nervous. I was just always afraid of someone telling me no, I can't do it, or just a no. But each no that I was told, it led to a yes in some shape or form. That's honestly the best advice that I can give.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women to trust themselves and not wait until they feel 100% ready to go after opportunities. I mean, higher ed is all about people, and your ability to connect, listen, and care truly about what matters and what really doesn't. Just be confident in your voice, even if you're not confident, because there's times that I don't even know what I'm talking about, but since I'm so confident, people think I know what I'm talking about. So it works! Honestly, I would just say stay organized, be consistent, don't be afraid to take initiative. You don't have to wait until you're 100% ready, you have to go and take risks.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Honestly, the biggest challenge in higher ed right now would be declining enrollment, like the cliff. People nowadays, we're in 2026, so a lot of people really don't want to go to college, so that kind of affects my role sometimes. Luckily, I'm working with older people that are wanting to, versus my old job where I was strictly only working with high school students, so it was a little bit more challenging there. People question the value of college all the time, like is it worth the cost, the rise in tuition, the student debt, all the skepticism. And then AI, technology and AI is reshaping everything for the good and for the bad, to be honest. It helps me out sometimes, but then sometimes I'm like, wait, do I even think for myself anymore? That's also a challenge when it comes to schools too, because people are like, why am I gonna go to school? I could just use AI. But to shift to make it more positive, the biggest opportunities, particularly in my role where I shine, is the growth in adult and non-traditional students. They're at that age where they need to figure out a retirement plan, they don't have that degree, they need a certificate, something. They need me as a resource. The demand for career-focused programs is really helpful. And then online education is booming, so that's really helping my field right now as well. And then just the relationship part. I'm so big on relationships, I love being in connection with people that I meet. I love it because it's all based on who you know. You could be the smartest person in the room, but if you don't got that personality, you're not putting yourself out there to talk to people, it's gonna be harder for you.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The interviewee described their main area of expertise as working with underrepresented students to help them return to school, including enrolling them online, managing financial aid, and working with educational institutions and hospitals. They highlighted earning their master's degree in leadership as a significant personal achievement that has helped in their current role working with leaders. The interviewee also shared their bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management from the University of Indianapolis.