The longer I lead, the more I realize my job isn’t to have every answer. My job is to help people see their potential and give them the confidence to go after it.
Monzerrath M. Stark-Magaña · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Monzerrath
Monzerrath M. Stark-Magaña serves as the Dean of Enrollment Services at the College of Southern Idaho, where she provides strategic leadership for teams dedicated to supporting students throughout their enrollment journey. In this role, she oversees registration and records, financial aid, advising, student success initiatives, veterans services, and one-stop student services, advancing student-centered practices that expand access, improve retention, and promote student success.
A transformational and authentic leader, Monzerrath is committed to creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and helping individuals realize their potential through education. With more than 15 years of experience in higher education, enrollment management, and strategic leadership, she has built a career focused on expanding educational access and improving student success, particularly for rural students and those facing educational barriers.
Prior to joining the College of Southern Idaho, Monzerrath served as Director of Admission and Recruitment at Northern Essex Community College, where she led enrollment and recruitment strategies during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. She began her higher education career at the University of Idaho, serving as Assistant Director for Multicultural Recruitment before advancing to Associate Director of Admissions. There, she developed innovative recruitment strategies and led a team serving prospective students across Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, with a strong focus on increasing college access for students facing educational barriers.
Monzerrath holds a Master of Science in Adult, Organizational Learning and Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology, both from the University of Idaho. She is a graduate of the Data Equity Fellowship, has completed DEI Foundations through Mentor Collective, and has pursued professional development through the U.S. Department of Education in federal student aid and enrollment policy.
Her leadership and service have earned numerous recognitions, including being named an Idaho Business Review Accomplished Under 40 honoree, receiving the Mujeres del Año Award from Mujeres Unidas de Idaho, and being honored with the Rosa Parks Human Rights Achievement Award from the Latah County Human Rights Task Force for her commitment to equity, inclusion, and community service.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Monzerrath serves on the board of Voices Against Violence and is actively involved with the Wood River Women’s Foundation.
Her leadership is guided by a deep commitment to service, mentorship, and the belief that education creates opportunities that transform lives, families, and communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Monzerrath
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my mother, whose courage and resilience have shaped every part of who I am. At just 26 years old, she immigrated to the United States with our family, determined to build a better future despite the uncertainty and challenges that lay ahead. Through her unwavering work ethic, sacrifice, and perseverance, she showed me that our circumstances do not define our potential.
Watching her overcome obstacles with grace and determination taught me the value of hard work, lifelong learning, and serving others. Her example inspired me to embrace opportunities, lead with purpose, and remain committed to creating pathways for others to succeed. The values she instilled in me—resilience, humility, compassion, and determination—continue to guide both my personal life and my leadership. Everything I have accomplished is rooted in the foundation she built for our family.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
For a long time, I wanted everyone to like me.
If I’m honest, that was one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn. It took years to realize that I’m simply not everyone’s cup of tea—and that’s okay.
Working in higher education has taught me that leadership isn’t about making everyone happy. Sometimes the decisions we make aren’t the most popular with colleagues, students, or even families. But our responsibility isn’t to seek approval—it’s to do what’s right.
For me, that means asking one question: Is this decision in the best interest of the student and their family? If the answer is yes, I can live with the fact that not everyone will agree with me.
I’ve learned that I don’t need everyone to like me. I need to be able to look in the mirror, know I acted with integrity, stayed true to my values, and made decisions that create opportunities for students to succeed.
Stay true. Seek impact, not approval. Let people dislike you.
The goal was never to be everyone’s favorite. The goal is to make a difference.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering higher education is this: never allow anyone including yourself to define the limits of what you are capable of becoming. Don’t stay inside the box that others create for you. Step outside of it. Take risks. Say yes to opportunities that challenge you, even if they scare you. Growth rarely happens where you’re comfortable.
Your voice matters. Your story matters. The experiences that make you different are not obstacles they are your greatest strengths. They will shape the way you lead, the people you inspire, and the lives you change.
There will be moments when you question yourself, when you wonder if you’re qualified enough or ready enough. Keep going anyway. Confidence isn’t something you wait for it’s something you build by showing up, learning, failing, and trying again.
Most importantly, never shrink yourself to make others comfortable. You are enough exactly as you are. Dream boldly, lead authentically, and build a career that reflects your values, your purpose, and the impact you want to leave on the world. The students whose lives you change may never know the obstacles you overcame but they will benefit because you chose not to let them define you.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges facing higher education today is ensuring that access leads to success. It’s no longer enough to simply help students enroll we must create systems that help them persist, graduate, and achieve their goals. Many of our students are balancing work, family responsibilities, financial pressures, and other life challenges, which means our institutions must become more flexible, responsive, and student-centered than ever before.
At the same time, I see tremendous opportunity. Technology and artificial intelligence are giving us new ways to personalize support, remove barriers, and make higher education more accessible. The key is using these tools to strengthen not replace—the human relationships that are at the heart of student success.
I also believe we have an opportunity to rethink how we serve students by designing systems around their lives instead of expecting them to navigate ours. When we listen, innovate, and lead with empathy, we create environments where more students and their families can thrive.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my work and my personal life are opportunity, service, and growth. I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of where they started or the barriers they face. That belief is what fuels my passion for higher education and my commitment to helping students and their families build better futures.
I believe leadership is an act of service. My role is not about titles or recognition it’s about removing barriers, creating opportunities, and helping others discover what they’re capable of achieving. Whether I’m working with students, colleagues, or my community, I want to leave people better than I found them.
Finally, I value growth. I don’t believe great leaders have all the answers. I believe they remain curious, embrace challenges, learn from mistakes, and continue becoming better versions of themselves. I strive to lead with authenticity, keep learning, and encourage others to believe in what’s possible for themselves.
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