Arivee (Vargas) Rozier-Byrd thinks about mentorship the way a jeweler might consider a precious stone—examining it from every angle. “I want to empower the next generation of women,” says Rozier-Byrd, “A lot of that involves digging deeper with questions and helping people see their own light. I understand the impact of mentorship because of my own personal experience, and I need to pay that forward for others.”

Having pivoted from her prior career as a lawyer, Rozier-Byrd leverages her legal and entrepreneurial expertise to coach women through challenges in their personal and professional lives. Her podcast, “Humble Rising,” hits many of the same notes, as she interviews women of color about how they’ve navigated their careers and lives. “Empowerment is so central to who I am and how I help people,” she says. 

A member of Boston College’s Board of Regents, Alumni Association Board, Council for Women of BC, and AHANA Alumni Advisory Council, Rozier-Byrd extends this same tireless commitment to her alma mater. For her, it’s not enough to root for the University from the sideline; she insists on rolling up her sleeves to help the University she loves.

“From elementary through high school, I never felt like I truly belonged,” she says. “The schools weren’t racially diverse, and they didn’t value critical thinking enough. That’s why my time at BC was so meaningful—I was being challenged, not only by my professors but by fellow students. I felt like my worlds were coming together, and I had a sense of belonging there.”

Proud of the strides BC has made to become more diverse and inclusive, Rozier-Byrd, who married classmate Trevor Rozier-Byrd ’05, is confident in the course the University is charting. “If we continue to ground ourselves in that Jesuit tradition, we can’t go wrong,” she says. “We have to keep learning and growing, because that’s what we’re called to do.”