When Sara Ureña arrived at Wilkes, she hoped to build meaningful relationships with her professors, get involved on campus and grow personally and professionally. Now, after earning both her bachelor’s degree and MBA at Wilkes, she can say she accomplished those goals and more. Along the way, Ureña gained confidence in herself, deepened her commitment to her community and developed a clear vision for what comes next.
“From the moment I arrived, I found a community that encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone, take on leadership roles and pursue opportunities I never imagined,” says Ureña, a native of Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
While pursuing her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a focus on management, along with minors in psychology and entrepreneurship, Ureña embraced opportunities to learn and lead beyond the classroom. She served as president of the Student Organization of Latinos and as an AmeriCorps VISTA tutoring mentor at Dr. David Kistler Elementary School.
Beyond academics and extracurricular activities, Ureña found that one of the most meaningful parts of her Wilkes experience was the mentorship she received. She cites Tanya Pyke, faculty of practice in the Sidhu School of Business and Leadership, and Erica Acosta, director of diversity initiatives, as two mentors who played an important role in shaping her journey.
“Dr. Pyke was one of the first people who truly believed in my potential before I fully believed in myself,” says Ureña. “She encouraged me to pursue my MBA and helped me realize that I was capable of achieving more than I had imagined. Her confidence in me gave me the courage to continue my education and pursue opportunities that aligned with my long-term career goals.”
Pyke’s encouragement helped Ureña see graduate school as a natural next step. After completing her undergraduate degree, she continued her education through Wilkes’ 4+1 MBA program, which allowed her to complete her MBA in just one additional year.
“I had already experienced firsthand the support and mentorship that Wilkes offers, and I knew the [MBA] program would allow me to deepen my business knowledge while continuing to develop as a leader,” says Ureña. “It also gave me the opportunity to gain professional experience through my graduate assistantship while preparing for a career focused on helping organizations and communities grow.”
As a graduate assistant for the Office of Diversity Initiatives, Ureña put her developing leadership skills into practice. She coordinated campus programs and events, managed communications and administrative projects, collaborated with students, faculty and staff and helped create initiatives that fostered an inclusive and welcoming campus environment.
“Serving as a graduate assistant for the Office of Diversity Initiatives was one of the most rewarding experiences of my time at Wilkes,” says Ureña. “Beyond the day-to-day responsibilities, the experience strengthened my organizational, communication and project management skills while teaching me the importance of servant leadership. Most importantly, it reinforced my passion for serving others and building environments where people feel supported and empowered to succeed.”
For Acosta, watching Ureña grow in that role was equally rewarding.
“Her willingness to learn, grow and continuously improve made her an exceptional graduate assistant and a valuable member of our team,” says Acosta. “The world is not ready for her.”
Ureña’s commitment to service showed both on and off the Wilkes campus. She helped with the preparation and execution of the City of Wilkes-Barre and Greater Wyoming Chamber of Commerce’s 8th annual Multicultural Parade. She also served on the planning and execution committee for the 8th annual Student Leadership Conference.
Now, Ureña is ready to bring what she learned from those experiences into her new role as a business assistance specialist with the Wilkes University Small Business Development Center (SBDC). In this position, she will support entrepreneurs and small business owners throughout the region as they work to launch, sustain and grow their businesses.
In addition to her role at the SBDC, Ureña plans to continue to pursue freelance opportunities as a marketing and business development consultant. Through this work, she will help businesses strengthen their marketing and branding efforts while developing strategies to support their long-term growth and success.
“I see Sara making a significant impact on our community and beyond,” says Pyke. “Sara is capable of matching challenges in a small business to a large corporate environment. Once she has a good sense of what is required, she is able to fulfill, then exceed.”
For Ureña, the lessons she learned at Wilkes will continue to shape the way she approaches her career and her community.
“Wilkes taught me that leadership is about serving others,” says Ureña. “That mindset is something I will carry with me throughout my career as I work to support organizations, entrepreneurs and communities across northeastern Pennsylvania.”