STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Yolanda Leal
Spring 2026 Graduate
B.B.A. General Business
For Yolanda, the journey at RELLIS was more than earning a degree, it was an opportunity to grow as a leader, build professional confidence, and prepare for a successful future in the business and insurance industry. While completing her degree at Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi at RELLIS, she found support and mentorship that helped shape both her academic and career goals.
Throughout her time at RELLIS, professors played a great role in helping Yolanda develop strong leadership skills and gain confidence in professional settings. Their guidance helped create a strong foundation for future success.
The smaller campus environment at RELLIS allowed Yolanda to form meaningful relationships with professors and classmates.
“One of my favorite things about the RELLIS Campus is the opportunity to have one-on-one time with professors because the class sizes tend to be smaller and more personal. I also appreciate being able to attend TAMU career fairs and enjoy benefits such as sports passes and the REC.”
One memory that continues to stand out for Yolanda was celebrating Ring Day with family and reflecting on everything it took to reach that milestone.
“One experience from my time at RELLIS that I will always remember is my Ring Day. The faculty and staff made the moment incredibly special and memorable not only for me, but also for my family. Having my mom put on my ring will always be a core memory that I will carry with me throughout my life and a reminder of how meaningful my journey at RELLIS has been.”
As someone passionate about growth and leadership, Yolanda encourages future students to make the most of their college experience by building relationships and seeking support from professors and mentors. She credits Professor Sellers, Dr. Smith, and Dr. Huang specifically as professors that played a role in her success and her mother who was always provided with encouragement and motivation during challenging moments.
“I would encourage future students to truly take advantage of the amazing professors, especially within the TAMU-CC department. My professors played a huge role in my growth by always being willing to help me succeed,” she states. “Some people who played a key role in my success were definitely Professor Sellers and Dr. Smith for always guiding me to succeed, as well as Mrs. Huang, who helped guide me throughout my internship process that eventually led to my full-time position. Most importantly, I would like to acknowledge my mom, who was always there for me during the days when I felt overwhelmed or stressed throughout the semesters and for the sacrifice that it took for me to be able to pursue my degree.”
After graduation she plans to begin a career as an Assistant Account Manager at Corl Insurance while continuing to expand her experience within the benefits and insurance field. She has a long-term goal of one day opening and leading her own benefits firm where she can help businesses and employees navigate their insurance and benefits.
Looking back, Yolanda says the experience at RELLIS helped reveal their potential and gave them the confidence to pursue ambitious career goals.
“My journey at RELLIS has been incredibly meaningful and rewarding, and although it has not always been an easy journey I really do feel like RELLIS will always be a place where I learned so much about myself and my true potential. I am truly grateful for all of the opportunities, mentorship, and support I received from so many people in this campus. RELLIS helped me grow both personally and professionally; while always offering me the tools I needed to succeed and help others along their journey as well. RELLIS gave me the confidence to pursue my career goals and step into the world confident in my potential in the job market.”
As she moves into the next stage of her career, Yolanda leaves RELLIS with valuable experience, meaningful relationships, and the confidence to pursue future opportunities with purpose and determination.
