Board of Directors
Adrianna Rodriguez attends Ridgewater College in Willmar, MN. She is currently pursuing a degree in Marketing and Sales Management. She is currently the vice president of her Student Senate. She graduated 2023 from Willmar Senior High School.
Adrianna first became interested in LeadMN after attending numerous conferences and events. She wanted to pursue it further by become a representative for her region. She believes that it fits her personality and her values for helping people succeed to the best of their abilities. If she needs to go above and beyond she will. She will stop at nothing to see you succeed.
Adrianna is the first in her family to graduate from high school and continue onto college. She is the 5th child in a family of 6. She enjoys reading, going to the gym, and spending time with family and friends. She also loves taking her dog Rocky on walks to the park.
As the Region 3 Representative and Board Chair with LeadMN, Denise brings her passion for creating meaningful change, advocating for students, and finding practical solutions to the challenges that students and communities face. Denise also currently serves as President of the South Central Community College Student Senate and as Treasurer of Phi Theta Kappa.
Her educational journey has not been a traditional one, orignally beginning college in a nursing program, until family circumstances led her down a different path. Denise is now pursuing Accounting and Business while continuing to stay connected to healthcare. She has completed certificates in Phlebotomy and Payroll, and is currently working toward jher Accounting Assistant Diploma and Health Unit Coordinator credential. As a first-generation, nontraditional student and single mother of three, she understands firsthand that navigating higher education can be challenging. Living with dyslexia has taught her the importance of persistence, asking for support, and finding solutions that work for different learners. These experiences fuel her commitment to making education and other systems more accessible and easier to navigate.
She is also passionate about access to justice, that people should not be disadvantaged simply because they lack the knowledge, resources, or money to understand and advocate for their rights. Denise strives to be a representative for students that leads through listening, learning, advocating, turning ideas into action.
Outside of school, Denise works as a Home Health Aide with Steele County Public Health and as a CNA and TMA through an agency serving surrounding healthcare facilities. When not working or studying, Denise enjoys audiobooks, music, dancing, crafting, and a variety of sports. Most importantly, she is proud to be a mom, student, advocate, and lifelong learner and hopes that her journey encourages others to believe that taking a different path does not mean giving up on your purpose.
