Heidi Marquez Vuletich –  Regis University 2007-2011
Photo – Fall 2014 lab members, Social Psychology Graduate Program, UNC Chapel Hill 

In which country, state, city… do you live now? U.S., North Carolina, Durham

Why did you decide to live there? I am attending graduate school at UNC Chapel Hill

What are you doing for work now? I am a Ph.D. student in Psychology at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

If you have a significant other, please tell us about him or her.  My husband’s name is Joseph Vuletich. He is a high school teacher, but eventually wants to also earn his Ph.D. We met in college at Regis University. He is a native of Colorado and grew up in Broomfield, CO.

Do you have kids? Please share their names and ages. We do not have any kids.

Do you still have family and friends in the Roaring Fork Valley? Yes, my family still lives in Glenwood Springs. My brother is starting his senior year of college and my sister is starting her junior year of college next year.

Where and when did you graduate from college? I graduated from Regis University in 2011.

What did you study in college? I have a master’s in Psychology and will be graduating with a Ph.D. in psychology in 2020.

Which degrees have you achieved? Yes. I am in a doctoral program for Social and Developmental Psychology.

Are you still working toward a certification or degree? As a first-generation college student, I learned that I am more capable than I thought I was. I have done things I was sure I couldn’t do. Now, looking towards the future, I allow myself to dream big. I’ve learned that they only thing I have to lose by pursuing lofty goals is my fear of trying.

What’s an important lesson you learned from your schooling?  As a first-generation college student, I learned that I am more capable than I thought I was. I have done things I was sure I couldn’t do. Now, looking towards the future, I allow myself to dream big. I’ve learned that they only thing I have to lose by pursuing lofty goals is my fear of trying.

What do you like to do in your spare time and why? My favorite thing to do is spend time with my husband. We have great conversations that inspire my intellectual curiosity and imagination. I also enjoy exercising (I love my “Step” class), learning how to play the piano, swimming, learning how to speak Italian, and working on my first memoir. I love everything that makes me grow and savor the richness our world has to offer.

Tell us about your favorite place or experience. My favorite place is and has always been my grandparents town in Chihuahua, Mexico. It’s a little piece of heaven on earth. Think green, rolling hills, an adobe house with a wooden stove and boiler, unpaved roads, chickens clucking everywhere, freshly baked bread from grandma, and an overwhelming sense of peace and tranquility. I dream myself there at least 3-4 times a week. I spent the most uninhibited and wildly imaginative childhood there.

What are your plans (or dreams) for the future? My dreams for the future are to continue conducting research on the psychological barriers that contribute to achievement disparities by socioeconomic status. I want to work on this an other projects that help make education more accessible to students of all income backgrounds. I also want to travel to other countries, and possibly work abroad for a time. I want to start a family, love the family I already have, and be a responsible citizen of the world.

Is there anything we can do to support you or your cause? If you know of any editors/publishers that would want to publish a memoir, let me know!