Staff Profile: Angie Covarrubias Aguilar

Angie Covarrubias Aguilar, Upward Bound program director, has been at HMC for 24 years. Upward Bound is a federally funded program designed to help high school students develop the academic skills and motivation necessary for success in a four-year college. Find out what Angie does to manage stress, what she does for fun and more in this Q-and-A.

What is your favorite part about your job and why?

Working with so many talented people, from our Upward Bound high school students to our talented Claremont Colleges student tutors to my brilliant UB colleagues and the collaboration with many staff and faculty.

What is something people don’t understand about your job that you wish they did?

Upward Bound is not just a summer program or an after-school program. We work year-round to help students not only academically but also on a social and emotional level by creating, developing and dreaming up various opportunities for our students. From professional internships, to summer research opportunities, college and enrichment trips to outdoor hiking adventures, you name it, we will learn to do it!

If you could swap jobs with any other HMC employee for a day, who would it be and why?

Someone in the Office of Wellbeing. OWB provides such an important service at HMC, helping students find community, wellness resources and support so they can thrive!

If you could add anything to campus to improve the employee experience, what would it be?

Friday afternoon dance parties!

What’s your favorite food/dish in the Hoch-Shanahan Dining Hall?

Chiles relleños.

What HMC events have made you feel really connected to other HMC colleagues?

The HMC book club.

What is your favorite hobby, activity or creative outlet?

I really enjoy cooking, especially when I challenge myself to learn new techniques.

What is your most effective strategy for dealing with stress?

Taking a walk around The Claremont Colleges! Feel free to join me.

Are you studying or learning something new?

For a year I have made it a habit to attend a cardio kickboxing class.

What book or podcast are you enjoying right now?

Too many books and podcasts to list! However, one of my current books is But What Will People Say? by Sahaj Kaur Kohli.

What is the last concert you attended?

Leon Bridges at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego.