📘 Legacy in Every Step: How Krysta Chacón Honors Her Roots While Guiding Future Scholars

Admin
Jul 16
2 min read

Krysta (Atkinson) Chacón knows firsthand that college is about more than just a degree—it's about transformation. As a first-generation college graduate and seasoned higher education professional, she has built a career helping students find their place, purpose, and path through college. Whether she’s developing experience roadmaps or mentoring students one-on-one, Krysta’s work is grounded in equity, access, and community.

“Graduating is a huge accomplishment,” she says. “But I want students to walk away with leadership skills, real-world experience, and a network of support that lasts long after college.”

🎓 Guiding Students Beyond the Classroom

Today, Krysta is a higher education professional at The University of Texas at Austin, where she has served in roles spanning program management, student development, and business administration.

Currently, she’s leading the creation of a college experience roadmap—a tool designed to ensure students don’t just graduate, but thrive every year they’re on campus.

“Maintaining grades and earning a degree is a huge accomplishment. But I want students to also gain leadership experience, career readiness skills, and meaningful connections—starting from their freshman year.”

💬 Heritage That Anchors and Inspires

For Krysta, her Mexican American heritage isn’t just personal—it’s a guiding force that shapes her values, her work, and the way she shows up for students.

One of her most treasured possessions is a framed gift from her grandmother: a penmanship certificate awarded to Krysta’s great-grandmother in 1931, a relic from a time when formal education for women—especially Latina women—was rare and often cut short. This certificate, earned for the elegance of her handwriting, marked the highest level of education her great-grandmother received.

“She had beautiful handwriting,” Krysta recalls. “And she kept that certificate for decades.”

Her grandmother honored that history by framing it alongside a photo of herself from 1959 and a portrait of Krysta’s great-grandmother standing proudly on her porch in East Austin.

“Our family heritage has deep roots in Central Texas,” Krysta says. “That framed piece sits in my home as a daily reminder of the strength and perseverance of the women who came before me.”

It’s more than a keepsake—it’s a visual lineage. A testament to how far one family can come in just a few generations. And it’s what fuels Krysta’s mission to help other first-generation students recognize the power of their own stories.

🌟 Advice for Current Scholars

Krysta encourages today’s students to embrace everything college life offers:

Use every resource you can find.
Apply for every opportunity that sparks even a hint of interest.
Build relationships with peers, mentors, and professionals early.
And most importantly:
“Reach back and give guidance to others who look up to you.”

🌱 Looking Forward, Giving Back

Krysta’s story is one of quiet determination, family legacy, and a commitment to lifting others as she climbs. Her daily work reflects a powerful belief: success isn’t just about the degree—it’s about what you do with it, and who you bring along with you.

Stories like Krysta’s remind us that every scholar’s journey is rooted in generations of strength—and shaped by communities that care.