Desiree Rodriguez has worked in various roles across higher education. She started in a registrar’s office as a transcript clerk before transitioning into various assistant roles for university administrators.

This semester, Rodriguez has been promoted to chief of staff for Xavier Cole, Loyola University’s president, serving as an advisor to the president and working closely with his cabinet on financial, operational, and administrative affairs.

Rodriguez has worked at Loyola for the past 14 years, mostly for the Provost. For the last four years, she served the president’s office as the senior executive assistant tasked primarily with managing the day-to-day details of the president’s schedule. 

Due to the nature of her work as executive assistant to the president, she found herself to be very stationary in the office. With her new role, she is determined to be a more active and engaged member of the Loyola community.

“I try to live my life with the goal of doing all things as if they are in direct service of God,” Rodriguez said about her work. “This has always kept me striving to do better—inspiring me to be, and do, more, which comes with a hunger for knowledge and ongoing education.”

According to Rodriguez, she has always enjoyed working in higher education because “there is great hope and excitement for the future when talking to students.” 

While working for the university, Rodriguez has been working on her masters in business administration. Rodriguez said this experience prepared her to do more and to become a more critical thinker and problem solver in her life. 

“I am grateful to President Cole for allowing me this opportunity to serve as chief of staff. Loyola University New Orleans is a great community to be a part of, and I want to make collaborative contributions to make it even better for everyone currently here and for generations to come,” Rodriguez said.