Alana Fithian-Wilson: Passion, Community, Resilience

By: Coenia Sanchez

Edited by Ariana Arias

Word Count: 1,060

Estimated Reading Time: 4-5 Minutes

The start of Alana Fithian-Wilson’s journey at Towson University was fueled by her eagerness to get involved on campus and be a part of the campus community. She came into her freshman year starting as an FYE leader, working as a CCA, and getting involved with SGA. In the second semester of her freshman year, she joined clubs such as Pasión and was always looking for different ways to stay engaged on campus.

This constant engagement was generated by the high expectations Fithian-Wilson had placed on herself before starting college. She was driven by a desire to succeed academically and make meaningful contributions to her community.

As she continued, Fithian-Wilson managed to balance her academic excellence with deep community engagement.

A recipient of the merit-based Provost Scholarship and a consistent member of the dean’s list, she has interned with the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, managing the Hispanic Commission and supporting resource outreach, as well as with the U.S. Department of State, where she coordinated press access and protocol for high-profile visits.

As a Civic Renewal Fellow with the Office of Social Impact, she expanded civic engagement on campus while studying abroad twice in Cuenca, Ecuador, and Madrid, Spain.

On campus, Fithian-Wilson’s leadership has been equally defining. She served as vice president of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Spanish Honor Society; rose from senator to president pro tempore of the Student Government Association; and acted as student ambassador program coordinator for the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education.

Through each role, whether advocating for student policies, promoting Spanish culture, or overseeing ambassador-led initiatives, Fithian-Wilson has left a lasting mark on Towson, embodying the engaged, compassionate leadership this senior edition seeks to celebrate.

Behind all those accomplishments were moments of pressure, uncertainty, and exhaustion.

These challenges forced Fithian-Wilson to become more adaptable and intentional in her approach to both work and her own well-being. She developed a stronger sense of purpose, grounded in service, leadership, and a commitment to creating impact beyond herself.

Each obstacle she faced pushed her to reaffirm why she started this path in the first place.

Looking back, she explained, “the key takeaway from my undergraduate experience has not been the recognition or accolades, but the perseverance it required to earn them.”

Fithian-Wilson’s story is one of learning how to navigate challenges while staying focused on long-term goals and of transforming moments of difficulty into motivation to keep moving forward.

For Fithian-Wilson, pursuing higher education was never just a next step; it was a decision shaped by where she comes from and what she wanted to create for herself and her family.

As the first in her family to attend college, she understood early on that stopping after high school was not an option. She saw education as a gateway, not only to opportunity but to a broader world she had not always been exposed to.

That understanding came with both pressure and purpose.

She wanted to set an example for her siblings, to show them that there is more beyond what they may immediately see and that those opportunities are within reach.

In many ways, her journey has never been just about her. It has been about opening doors and making possibilities more tangible for the people she loves.

As the eldest daughter, Fithian-Wilson carries a deep sense of responsibility: to create opportunities that once felt inaccessible and to make those possibilities visible for her loved ones and her community.

Fithian-Wilson’s advice to fellow seniors is to be intentional with their time.

“It is easy to get caught up in what is next,” she said, “but do not let that take away from fully experiencing where you are right now.”

She encouraged students to focus on putting themselves in positions where they can grow and learn while exploring what genuinely interests them.

Above all, she emphasized recognizing how far they have come and spending time celebrating that.

Her journey, she reminded readers, is not just about the destination; it is about the doors she has opened along the way, both for herself and for those who will follow.

Despite facing numerous challenges, Fithian-Wilson never let hardship derail her academic success or her commitment to helping others.

She will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish, along with a minor in international studies.

Motivated by a strong desire to support marginalized communities, she is actively pursuing opportunities, ideally within nonprofit organizations, where she can continue transforming her perseverance into meaningful impact.