Meet A Niner
Val Sosa-Gutierrez ’18 is assistant director of the Forty-Niner Intensive Transition Program. Learn more about her role, the FIT program and how she enjoys spending her time outside of work.
Tell us about your time working at the University.
I have worked here for five-and-a-half years. My career at UNC Charlotte started as a student worker for the College of Computing and Informatics. When I graduated in 2018, I was the interim administrative assistant and program coordinator for the SIS Masters and Certificate Program. Around six months after graduation, I became a department coordinator for the Belk College of Business, where I worked for three years until being promoted to executive assistant to the dean of the college. During this time I was working on my master’s degree, so when it came time for me to do my internship requirements, I moved over to the University Career Center where I interned as a career coach until December 2023. I have been in my current position since February 2024.
Describe your current role at UNC Charlotte.
I manage the Forty-Niner Intensive Transition Program, which is a summer program that introduces new UNC Charlotte students to the campus community, familiarizes them with the University’s support services and helps them to craft a smooth transition into Niner Nation. I also teach a first year seminar course during the fall semester.
What is the Forty-Niner Intensive Transition Program, and why is it important for our students?
The 49er Intensive Transition Program is designed to help new students successfully transition to UNC Charlotte. This program is available to first year students and transfer students. FIT is composed of 11 cohorts — some are based on academic subjects and others are identity-based. The bulk of FIT will take place one week before classes begin in August. Throughout this week, students engage in cohort-specific learning activities, while also being introduced to campus resources and support services.
How can faculty and staff support the Forty-Niner Intensive Transition Program?
FIT support can come from both faculty and staff. The biggest way in which they can support our program is through word of mouth. If they encounter a new-to-Charlotte student at any point before their first semester, they can recommend FIT as a great headstart that is crafted to meet their needs no matter what their major is.
How did you get into this line of work?
Being able to help students not only become Niners, but to help them be successful from the moment they step onto our campus is something that I am deeply invested in. Transitioning from high school to college or from a community college to a large university, can be a very overwhelming process. As a first-generation college student, coming to college was a whole new world for me that I didn’t know how to navigate, but UNC Charlotte offered me the resources that I needed to be successful during my time as a student and beyond. What I see in FIT is the opportunity to welcome students from all walks of life into UNC Charlotte, while helping them embrace their greatest potential through all that our University has to offer.
What’s the most rewarding part of your job?
The most rewarding part is seeing the impact that our program has on the lives of each student. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to students who went through FIT in previous years and they found it so valuable — not just because of the academic gains but also the sense of community they were able to build with their cohort. Plus, it’s fun to talk about all of the amazing opportunities that UNC Charlotte has to offer any chance that I get!
What advice would you give to a freshman or transfer student?
My number one advice to students is to take control of their future. It’s important that students feel empowered to choose a major they are interested in, a career that fills them with excitement and purpose and to use the resources available to them to their advantage. I always try to remind students that their future is theirs to own and that there is beauty in that.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
When I am not working, I am typically with my husband and two dogs. I enjoy going on long walks with my family and trying new restaurants. I also enjoy making homemade bread and crocheting.
What’s a fun fact about you many people may not know?
I collect mugs, and have over 100 of them!