Roxy Manzano

Student Advocate
Rochester Community & Technical College
she/her

Roxy is attending Rochester Community and Technical College for the Nursing program. She is involved in student senate and tries to be as involved as she can with events happening around campus, like sports and other activities.

Roxy is a student advocate for LeadMN. She chose to become part of LeadMN as a student advocate was because she wants to be a voice for her fellow students and because Roxy believes every student deserves to be heard. College can be and feel overwhelming, and too often students aren’t aware of where to bring their concerns or ideas or are too uncomfortable to do so. LeadMN gives Roxy the opportunity to not only share her own experiences, but also be able to speak up for others who may not feel comfortable doing so. She knows firsthand what it feels like to hold back from asking questions or sharing concerns out of fear of looking silly or less knowledgeable. No student should ever feel that way, and that experience, which has motivated Roxy to ensure others feel supported, valued, and empowered to speak up.

LeadMN gives Roxy the opportunity to represent the perspectives of peers who may not feel comfortable advocating for themselves. To Roxy, advocacy is about creating meaningful change, whether that’s pushing for affordable tuition, improving access to resources, or fostering, more inclusive and welcoming campus environment. At the same time this role challenges Roxy to step out of her comfort zone, strengthen her leadership and communication skills and grow both personally and professionally. Being part of LeadMN is not just about Roxy’s own success, it’s about building a stronger, more supportive community, where all students can thrive.