SXU Nursing Alumna Gives Back to Young Women in Need
Saint Xavier University (SXU) alumna Maria Isabel Salazar '96 is combining her broad skill set and love of service to give back to young women in need at Bethany House of Hospitality. Drawing from the skills and core values she learned at SXU, Salazar's goal is to ensure access to community services for refugees.
Salazar studied nursing at SXU and began her first nursing job as a community health nurse at Erie Family Health Center two weeks after graduation. After some time at Erie, she worked as a school nurse for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for five years. Salazar took a short break to focus on raising her three children and then went back to SXU to audit Spanish classes. With that experience, she started teaching Spanish at a private elementary school for nine years. In 2015, she applied for admission to the ministry justice program at the Catholic Theological Union (CTU) and was awarded the Saint Oscar Romero Scholarship. She graduated in 2021 and will walk the stage this May.
With a variety of experiences under her belt, Salazar is now beginning a new one at the Bethany House of Hospitality, which offers housing and support services to young immigrant women as they journey to independence. Salazar completed her ministry practicum at Bethany House and became familiar with their mission. In her position, Salazar is able to intersect her nursing skills, knowledge of immigration law and interpreting.
"By divine intervention, they opened up a part-time case management position. I am in charge of coordinating with attorneys, health care providers and other community service providers to ensure our young women have access to legal, health and education services. From a spiritual side, it's a journey to accompany young women through a lot of the trauma they've experienced," said Salazar.
Bethany House of Hospitality has a mission of compassion and respect for life and human dignity, akin to Saint Xavier's own.
"When I was at SXU, I always felt very respected by the professors and the students. Specifically, as a Latina woman, I never felt discriminated against – I was always welcomed and that is something I will always hold dear. I am proof that it is possible for Latinos to succeed in college with support, guidance and encouragement. Saint Xavier is actually very special to me because we are a legacy family – my daughter [Sarah Salazar] also graduated from SXU," said Salazar.
Born and raised in the Back of the Yards community in Chicago, Salazar is Mexican-American. Her father was a field worker in Dixon, California when he arrived to the U.S. in the late '60s, and both her parents were blue-collar factory workers, with her mother still working in a factory currently at age 76. Salazar chose to study nursing at SXU because of the care she witnessed nurses provide to her father, who was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor when she was 14.
"When my father had surgery and rehab, that is basically when my love of compassion and nursing evolved. My parents did not speak English or know how to maneuver the health care system, so I quickly learned how to case manage and serve as my father's interpreter. Prior to this situation, I wanted to be an immigration attorney, so it's actually interesting how I am coming back full circle with my work with the young women at Bethany House," said Salazar.
Salazar is grateful for the education she received at SXU, which laid the foundation for her work today.
"I got a top-notch education at SXU. Being challenged, the availability of my professors whenever I had questions and the writing center were all instrumental for me. I was taught respect and patience on a whole different level, and I have carried that virtue of patience throughout all of my careers," said Salazar.
While a student at SXU, Salazar worked as a Spanish tutor in the writing center and as a student worker in the School of Nursing. She was also a member of the Hispanic Club. She has many fond memories from her time at SXU.
"I met one of my best friends in chemistry, and now she is my daughter's godmother! I was also pleased with the diversity at SXU. I am very touched and very proud that there continue to be more people of color available for student support at SXU. I had such supportive professors and always felt grateful. With their support, I was able to graduate top of my class. I cannot emphasize enough how important my experience at SXU was," said Salazar.
Salazar looks forward to continuing to strengthen her skills on case management and serve women in need at Bethany House of Hospitality.