Influential Woman · Higher Education

Sierra Perez

Assistant Director, Academic Programs, URI Office of Strategic Initiatives

Kingston, RI

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree PhD in Marketing (Beginning Fall 2026) Degree Master's in Higher Education at Central Washington University Degree Biology degree at University of Washington Degree Everett Community College Member New England Association for Concurrent Enrollment Programs (NEACEP) Member New England Association for Graduate Enrollment Management (NAGAP)

Her Story

About Sierra

Right now, I oversee support for over 60 high schools in Rhode Island. I talk almost daily with about 150 high school teachers to provide free college credit for students across Rhode Island through state funding. It's a really rewarding experience, although it does have its challenges. High school teachers are quite busy! I've developed a CRM marketing campaign from the ground up that I hope will improve support for teachers and students.

I’m also proud to partner with special academic programs at URI. One of my favorite programs is the URI DBA program. The Doctor of Business Administration is an incredible initiative for business students, and I’m so privileged to help students enroll, and work closely with the exceptional College of Business faculty as they lead the program.

Quick Facts

IndustryHigher Education
Based inKingston, RI
Specialty Enrollment Management, Higher Education Marketing
Volunteers with Pet Assisted Therapy - Windwalker Humane Coalition

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Sierra

01What do you attribute your success to?

I absolutely attribute my success to my managers and my mentors who, whenever I had crazy ideas or a lot of energy, they didn't reject me. There were individuals that saw I had the bandwidth to take on that extra passion project. It’s the managers who said yes. My Directors at the University of Rhode Island, and previously at Clark University have been incredible.

02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would say be aggressive in advocating for transferable skill sets. You might not have years of experience, you might not have the right title, you might not have the typical qualifications for a role, but you do have intrinsic skills and drive and characteristics that make you irreplaceable, and only you can have that confidence. So, I would say don't let somebody else define if you're qualified or not. It's really based on your confidence level and rising to the occasion.

03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The biggest challenge is always funding. We are always thinking creatively on how to expand offerings for free or affordable early college credits. The interest from the high school students and teachers continues to rise every year. High schools are also seeking employers for work-based learning partnerships, which is a unique opportunity and challenge.

One of the opportunities we have is defining what impression we want to make on high school students, like their first impression of higher education. Colleges can present themselves as extra prestigious and hard to access, or they can create the impression of belonging and supportive. It’s a privilege to be involved in those student perspectives and journeys!

04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I would say my values are to make sure everyone feels like they belong, and they're a part of a community. Nothing is worse than being in spaces where you feel like you're the odd person out, and you don't belong in the room. That’s why I try to make high school students feel like they belong college, or teachers feel welcomed to professional development initiatives. Even when we partners with non-profits and small businesses in Rhode Island, we empower their missions to create communities. These are the reasons why I always try to lead with encouragement and belonging when I'm connecting with others.

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