“Ginny [Hargrave, the Senior Director of Development] just really took a chance on me,” says Laura Nova, the development assistant in the Arts Division. “When I asked her, ‘why’d you choose me?’ she said that she saw a spark in me.” Nova is on the cusp of her one-year anniversary at UC Santa Cruz, which comes up in April. This opportunity has led to major positive shifts in her career and life.
Born and raised in the country of Eugene, Oregon with her two brothers, Nova’s childhood was filled with exploration. She describes her household as an “Italian-Mexican family with a lot of energy,” where she and her siblings had room to explore and be creative. “My mom’s an artist, so I grew up with that eccentricity,” she says. “It’s all rooted in this compelling lust for life, so I grew up with that lens.”
From a young age, Nova’s mother encouraged her to travel so she could experience other cultures. As a pre-teen she visited places including Bali, Thailand and Japan. Though Nova claims it wasn’t until later in life that she truly appreciated those experiences, and the importance of understanding how other people live.
As an adult Nova discovered a passion for yoga, and earned a Registered Yoga Teacher 500-Hour certificate. Encouraged by her family’s entrepreneurial spirit, Nova started her own wellness company working in corporate wellness, which introduced her to the many benefits of being part of a positive company culture, and eventually inspired her to switch careers.
Nova received her Bachelor’s in Communication with the goal of finding a full-time office position with the same kind of affirmative culture she had experienced while working in wellness. She describes finding the development position at UC Santa Cruz, saying, “Ginny believed in me and gave me this amazing opportunity.”
Since coming to UC Santa Cruz, Nova feels like she has really found a home: “I’ve connected with a few colleagues on campus that are really sweet,” she says. “We go to campus plays and theater in downtown Santa Cruz, and they’ve been really sweet to include me”
Though she no longer teaches yoga, Nova still practices every day. She also stays active by playing beach volleyball on Sunday mornings and is committed to volunteering at the Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter.