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Yalil Nieves (MA ’10, EdD ’26) will walk the graduation stage for the fourth time this spring after completing her EdD in Educational Leadership, but this time she will not be walking alone. Her son Norberto Nieves (MEd ’26), will be joining her at the School of Education ceremony, having completed his Master’s in Community Counseling.
“Seeing him graduate, it’s one thing, but seeing him graduate in a field that’s going to allow him to be of service to others, particularly when we consider everything that we’re facing, both as an immigrant population and as a world in general, I think that gives me even more pride,” said Yalil.
A year after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology, Norberto began his master’s and his pursuit of higher education will continue at Loyola’s School of Education in the PhD for Counseling Psychology program. “It was kind of an expectation that we could go back to school [and succeed in] advanced degrees. So even though it was required for the profession that I wanted to go into, it never felt like this out of reach expectation or challenge.”
Yalil’s passion for education is rooted in her upbringing as a first-generation immigrant. She arrived in the United States when she was 12, moving from Panama with her mother and siblings. “The value of education was something that was instilled in me,” Yalil said, “and I saw it as it was my duty to take advantage of opportunities, particularly educational opportunities, to honor my mother, who moved mountains to make sure that we were able to stay in this country.”
Seeing him graduate, it's one thing, but seeing him graduate in a field that's going to allow him to be of service to others ... I think that gives me even more pride.
— Yalil Nieves (EdD '26)
Yalil’s dedication to higher education earned her a spot in the McNair Scholars Program, a federal program that offers financial support and resources to first-generation, low-income students pursuing doctorate degrees. Her journey led her to Loyola, where she received a Master’s in History and returned years later for her PhD.
Paying it forward is at the heart of the Nieves legacy, and for Yalil, an elementary school principal, that means providing educational foundations for those in her community. “We serve a large population of children who have had even more challenging experiences coming to this country,” Yalil said. “Knowing that I represent, to some extent, a community, further validates the work that I do and my desire to continue to pursue studies or another degree.”
“I’ve always instilled in my children [the idea that you] have to be a good human because it doesn’t matter if you’re the smartest person in the world. If you can’t empathize, if you can’t put yourself in the shoes of others, it doesn’t matter,” said Yalil.
Throughout his master’s program, Norberto discovered the power of Loyola’s positive educational communities. He hopes to continue fostering similar communities as he pursues his future studies and career. “Our faculty and the way that everybody—faculty, friends, and family—have supported me through this definitely promotes the idea that you can do just about anything you want to if you put your mind to it,” Norberto said.
