Mercedes Amador

With ten years of experience in higher and postsecondary education, Mercedes is the Executive Director for Student Development at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois. She supports Cougar Trax New Student Orientation, On-Campus Programming, Student Organizations, and University Housing in this role. Prior to Saint Xavier, Mercedes grew and evolved through positions at Arizona State University and the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. When she is not working, you can find her on the #HigherEdRiders Peloton leaderboard, spending quality time with her family and exploring the greater Chicagoland area.

As a current doctoral student, Mercedes is focusing her research on the academic persistence of underrepresented students and will become a Triple Devil with an Ed.D in Leadership and Innovation.

When she’s not working or studying, you can find her raising two pups, spinning on her bike, or supporting local Phoenix BIPOC businesses.

Top five strengths: Strategic, Command, Activator, Self-Assurance, Relator.