When Jose Rodriguez-Alcorta ’27, an accounting major with dual citizenship, left Texas for Loyola Marymount University, he was looking for opportunity, and found a world of possibilities. “My dad, while living in Mexico, always encouraged me to study in the U.S. like he wished he could have,” Rodriguez-Alcorta shares. “LMU stood out because of its location, strong business programs, and the incredible financial aid support I received.”
Growing up Catholic, Rodriguez-Alcorta didn’t initially consider Jesuit values as part of his college decision. But at LMU, he discovered how those values shape academics and community life. “It’s about more than education, it’s about becoming a person for others,” he says. From his first days on campus, he was struck by the diverse array of backgrounds with students coming from all over the globe for a Jesuit education. “International Orientation was amazing and I met people from all over the world, and those connections have grown ever since,” Rodriguez-Alcorta said. “Through clubs, leadership roles, and programs like Outdoor and Adventure Recreation, I have embraced every opportunity, from hiking local trails to skiing for the first time during spring break.”
In his life on campus, Rodriguez-Alcorta has the opportunity to experience global learning each day by working in the Office for International Students and Scholars as a student assistant who helps manage the office’s budget. “I really appreciate that they placed me in a role where I could grow my finance skills while serving the international community,” he explains. “OISS in my opinion is an amazing space to work and they truly support you as a student and let you use your talents to better yourself. When I started, they realized how much I am interested in finance and accounting and let it become another place where I could expand my skills and education.”
Rodriguez-Alcorta’s LMU experience has taken him far beyond Los Angeles. A scholarship from the Center for Asian Business in the LMU College of Business Administration has allowed him to study at a Jesuit university in South Korea, a truly transformative experience. “Practicing Taekwondo in Korea was a full-circle moment for me,” he says. “I earned my black belt as a kid, and now I’ve had the chance to learn in the country where it originated.”
He also discovered cultural similarities between Korea and Mexico. “My assumption going to South Korea was that many of my experiences were going to be different from my time living in Mexico or Texas, when in fact I experienced more similarities,” said Rodriguez-Alcorta. “Both cultures value sharing meals and community,” Rodriguez-Alcorta reflects. “And Korean BBQ? I loved it so much that now I take my friends and my parents when they visit Los Angeles to try it.”
This summer, Rodriguez-Alcorta will embark on a multi-city study abroad program in Berlin, Madrid, and London, each city offering unique academic and cultural experiences. “I’ve always wanted to visit Germany since I was a young child, but I felt like learning the language may be challenging,” said Rodriguez-Alcorta. “After going to South Korea, I realized how much I love to travel and I started to look for ways I might be able to study abroad while at LMU. I literally went through every single program offered at LMU and researched the details behind each one to figure out which one would be best for me. Madrid connects to my love of soccer and I’ve been supporting the soccer team there since I was a kid, and London is one of the biggest financial hubs and I’ll be doing an internship there while I am there.”
Rodriguez-Alcorta’s involvement on campus is extensive, he serves as a senator at large in LMU’s undergraduate student government called ASLMU, he’s served an as international orientation leader for two years, he’s a member of the Crimson Consulting Group and the Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity, and he serves as a mentor coordinator on the executive board of the Accounting Society. One of his proudest roles is mentoring students through professional development programs. “Connecting LMU students with alumni at top firms creates real value,” he says. “It’s about helping others succeed.”
Rodriguez-Alcorta plans to complete two majors and a minor, pursue an MBA, and continue building bridges across cultures. “I’ve learned that leadership starts with understanding others,” he says. “LMU gave me the space to explore, connect, and dream big.” International Education Week celebrates stories like Rodriguez-Alcorta’s where curiosity, courage, and community turn education into a global adventure.
