Lisette is part of the Barzilai Foundation’s inaugural cohort of students at the University of Wisconsin–Madison who are receiving support while they pursue degree programs to enhance their career potential. Lisette’s path here has not been easy. She has overcome significant obstacles in her pursuit of studying computer science, showing how a person with potential and passion cannot be deterred by any barrier.
Lisette’s first attempt at a degree in computer engineering was derailed by realities that many students of modest economic means face. When financial challenges at home force a student to increase their workload, they often reach a breaking point where work hours crowd out study hours. For millions of students, financial pressure slams the door on education, which, unfortunately, is the best way to break out of a lower-economic standing.
Lisette would not let that door close permanently, and she found alternative ways to stay connected to computer sciences. For the next ten years, Lisette found time to participate in robotics events, eventually branching into the field of robotics research. She found that international robotics events became her portal for meeting new people and learning about new cultures.
At the age of 28, Lisette moved to Madison, Wisconsin, to marry her husband who was a student at the University of Wisconsin. Moving from abroad, she was confronted with many barriers right away – language, culture, and lifestyle, to name a few – but despite those barriers, she was inspired to return to school and complete her college education.
Lisette’s start at UW–Madison was through the Badger Ready pathway program, designed for individuals with nontraditional education paths seeking admission as transfer students. She successfully completed the program and was admitted as a transfer student. Unfortunately, after admission, she hit massive new obstacles that drastically changed her life: she became homeless and her husband died leaving her a widow Lisette. found support in the Madison community that helped her through those rough times, and she remained on track academically.
“Lisette has had so many reasons to pack it up and quit on her education and future, and nobody would have blamed her,” said Brandon Sosa, CEO of the Barzilai Foundation. “We are proud of Lisette and honored to be a part of her journey. She demonstrates tremendous courage and determination, and with that fueling her, she has a very bright future ahead.”
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