Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Class of 2026: For this international graduate, her next big idea is a marketing agency of her own

Story by Misty Bouse, photos by Ric Getter

When Alejandra Heredia Cepeda came to Portland Community College from Mérida, Mexico, she brought with her a passion for creativity, a love of communication and a deep desire for helping people connect.

Now, the Hillsboro resident has earned honors and an associate degree in marketing with a 3.8 grade-point average and a growing vision for her future in branding, social media and community engagement. Heredia Cepeda attended high school in Mexico and previously studied business administration at the Autonomous University in Mexico, Yucatán. She also worked in social media and event management before coming to the U.S. in 2024 to improve her English.

Heredia Cepeda said becoming an international student changed her life and helped her grow in ways she did not expect.

“Being an international student has been a life-changing experience,” she said. “It challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, become more independent, and adapt to a completely new culture and educational system.”

At PCC, she chose marketing because it allowed her to combine creativity with business strategy. She said she is especially interested in how brands connect with people through storytelling, social media and community engagement.

“I chose marketing because I enjoy creativity, communication and understanding how brands connect with people,” Heredia Cepeda said. “I’m especially interested in social media, branding and community engagement.”

She joined thousands of PCC grads who were honored as part of the class of 2026 back in June. The college’s commencement ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum celebrated the newly minted graduates, who recently earned their degrees and certificates as family and friends watched.

Long term, Heredia Cepeda hopes to build her own agency focused on helping small businesses grow their online presence. For now, she plans to continue gaining professional experience in marketing while exploring future education opportunities.

Heredia Cepeda said PCC gave her the support she needed to succeed academically, professionally and personally. She received PCC Foundation scholarships in 2024 and 2025, which helped reduce financial stress and allowed her to focus more on school and career opportunities.

“PCC faculty and students are helpful,” Heredia Cepeda said. “No matter where you come from, you feel like you belong.”

She also found support through the Office of International Student Services (OISS), the library, tutoring, the PCC Reading and Writing Center and Counseling. As an English-language learner, she said the writing center was especially meaningful as she worked to strengthen her academic writing and communication skills.

“Those sessions helped me strengthen my confidence and communication skills tremendously,” she said.

International student services also played a central role in helping her feel connected far from home.

“OISS was one of my biggest support systems because they helped me feel welcomed, connected, and supported far away from home,” Heredia Cepeda said. “I also worked as an international peer leader at PCC’s Sylvania Campus helping other students.”

As the eldest of five children, Heredia Cepeda said her parents always encouraged education and career goals. Their support, along with her own savings, helped make her PCC journey possible. She said her greatest strengths have been perseverance and adaptability: qualities that helped her navigate studying in a second language and living in a new country.

“I learned to keep moving forward even during uncertain times,” she said. “I remind myself why I started and try to see every challenge as an opportunity to grow and invest in my future.”

To learn more about PCC’s international education offerings, visit: https://www.pcc.edu/international-students/