Her Story
About Cadence
Cadence Lopez is a recent graduate of SUNY Brockport and an emerging advocate, educator and writer beginning her professional career in Rochester, New York. She earned a Bachelor of Science in English with concentrations in Creative Writing and Women’s and Gender Studies in May 2026, graduating summa cum laude.
Just three months after graduation, Cadence began her professional career as a Prevention Educator and Mobile Outreach Advocate at a domestic violence center in Rochester. In this role, she educates students and community members about healthy relationships, dating violence and prevention. Her work brings together the areas that have shaped her throughout college: communication, creative writing, gender studies and advocacy. Her interest in domestic violence prevention is also personal, having grown up in a home where domestic violence was present.
Cadence’s path to graduation was not linear. She began college in 2021 before making the decision to leave Missouri, her home state, and relocate to Rochester to pursue her education at SUNY Brockport. After beginning her college journey, she stepped away from school to work full-time and support her single mother and three younger sisters. Balancing family responsibilities with her own aspirations required patience, persistence and a willingness to continue moving forward even when the path was uncertain.
When Cadence continued her education, she carried those experiences with her. They shaped her understanding of leadership as something rooted not in perfection, but in persistence, accountability, reflection and the willingness to keep showing up. Through her experiences, she came to understand that investing in her own growth was not selfish, but necessary to building a sustainable future.
During her undergraduate career, Cadence developed her leadership and advocacy skills through her involvement in The Delta Phi Epsilon Sorority, campus organizations and honor societies. Her experiences in leadership taught her that meaningful leadership is less about having all the answers and more about listening, taking accountability, creating space for others and helping people recognize their own strength.
Cadence is also a published writer, with two short stories published, and considers storytelling an important part of how she connects with others and makes sense of the world around her. Her background in creative writing and Women’s and Gender Studies has given her a unique perspective on the relationship between individual experiences and larger social issues.
As she begins this next chapter, Cadence hopes to build a career that allows her to combine creativity, education and advocacy. She values inclusivity, meaningful communication and creating spaces where people feel supported and empowered. Her journey has taught her that leadership does not require having everything figured out. It requires the willingness to grow, reflect and continue showing up — lessons she hopes to carry into every space she enters throughout her professional life.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cadence
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to hard work, patience and perseverance. I have experienced difficult things throughout my life, and those experiences have taught me how to keep going even when things are not easy. I have learned to give myself patience and grace while still holding myself accountable to the goals I set for myself.
When I decide that I want to accomplish something, I put my mind to it and work as hard as I can to make it happen. I have faced moments when giving up would have been easier, but I have always found a way to keep moving forward. The challenges I have experienced have shaped me into someone who is passionate, determined and hardworking. I do not believe that difficult experiences have to define who you become. For me, they have become part of what motivates me to grow, pursue my goals and continue building a life I am proud of.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to always try to make a genuine connection wherever you go. You never know who you are going to meet or how a conversation with someone could lead you toward an opportunity, a new connection or a goal you are working toward. I’ve learned that it is important to talk openly about the things I am passionate about because you never know who might share those interests, offer a new perspective or connect you with someone who can help further your professional goals. Building relationships and being willing to put yourself out there can open doors you never expected.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Even the littlest thing that you do, whether that's making a connection with a domestic violence survivor or making a connection with another organization, no matter how big or small that is, you're making a difference and you should be proud of that. Even if it doesn't feel like you did anything so great and so amazing, you did something that is actually amazing. Always know that no matter what you do, you're making an effort and you're putting in that work and you're making that change.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is hearing the stories of survivors and knowing that there are still people experiencing violence. It can be difficult emotionally to hear what someone has gone through, especially because the goal of this work is to prevent violence from happening in the first place. At the same time, I think that challenge is also what makes this work so meaningful.
When you are able to hear someone’s story, support them and help them regain a sense of hope, you are reminded of why the work matters. Knowing that I can play a small part in helping someone feel supported and empowered makes the difficult moments worth it. It motivates me to continue doing this work and to focus on creating a future where fewer people have to experience violence in the first place.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are inclusivity, empathy, individuality, authenticity and growth. Inclusivity is especially important to me because I believe everyone deserves to feel seen, respected and valued for who they are. To me, being inclusive means recognizing and appreciating each person’s individuality rather than expecting everyone to be the same. Everyone comes from different experiences and perspectives, and I think it is important to listen to those differences and make space for them.
Empathy is another value that guides me. I try to remember that everyone has their own experiences and challenges that I may not fully understand. Taking the time to listen to people, understand where they are coming from and avoid making assumptions is something I try to practice in both my personal life and my work.
I also value authenticity and growth. I want to be able to show up as myself while still being willing to learn, reflect and grow. I don't think becoming a better person or professional means having everything figured out. It means being open to other people, learning from your experiences and allowing yourself to continue growing.
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