Alyssa finds a passion and a career in human development and family studies

When Rodriguez’s grandfather died before her senior year of high school, she found herself with no family to rely on. But Rodriguez earned a scholarship to Iowa State University, where she found community and ignited a passion for helping others.

Rodriguez started out as a bioinformatics major, but she found the coursework didn’t resonate with her. She considered majoring in public relations and political science until she took an introductory course in human development and family studies, a discipline that explores how humans develop behaviorally, cognitively, economically, emotionally, physically and socially throughout a lifespan. The course hit home for Rodriguez in ways she didn’t expect.

Her story was part of a 2023 graduating seniors profile written by the Iowa State News Service team.

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Woman with dark hair facing the camera standing with her hand on her hip, smiling and wearing a brown suit.

“My grandparents, who obviously hadn’t gone to college, didn’t really know much about it,” Rodriguez said during an interview reflecting on her time at Iowa State. “But they knew it would be a good thing for me, and they knew it was something I wanted. So, they really supported that pathway.”