By Sarah Kuta
Diane Arias always dreaded visiting the dentist as a little girl growing up in Alamosa — she hated the silver crowns that covered her baby teeth.
But, as she grew up, her negative feelings about dentistry began to evolve.
When she needed braces at age 18, Arias had an epiphany. Whether she liked it or not, dentistry had made a huge impact on her life. Those same silver crowns on her teeth as a child allowed her to eat more regularly, which meant she could catch up in development and grow healthy and strong. The braces would give her a stunning smile.
“I just fell in love with the process and I was able to appreciate the artistry of it and just how impactful it can be,” said Arias, who is hosting this year’s Adams State Gives Day Telethon and Talent Show with Adams State Theatre Professor John Taylor on Feb. 15. “I realized that dentistry was very important and will always be relevant for making sure people are healthy and happy.”
As a future dentist, Arias hopes to help children and adults reach their full potential with healthy teeth and gums and confidence in their smiles. But as she waits for acceptance into dental school, she’s not wasting any time. While working full-time as an admissions counselor at Adams State, Arias is also pursuing an MBA in healthcare administration, with a goal of someday opening her own dental practice.
Arias has always enjoyed staying busy. Her parents immigrated to Alamosa from Mexico in the mid-1990s to give their two daughters — Diane and her sister, Edith Arias, a 2019 ASU graduate — more educational opportunities. In high school, Arias earned perfect grades while playing soccer, cheerleading and participating in student government and clubs. She also participated in a professional summer program, which helped solidify her interest in pursuing a career in healthcare.
Arias took college classes at Adams State as a high school junior and senior, which set her on a path to becoming a Grizzly. While working toward her biology degree, Arias served as a student ambassador, participated in several science clubs and restarted the campus’ chapter of the Catholic Newman Club. She was part of the Associated Students and Faculty and, as a senior, served as the student trustee on the University’s Board of Trustees.
“It’s always been very inspirational to see how hard my parents are working and all the possibilities we have available for us right now, the doors that can be opened for us with education,” she said.
As a bilingual admissions counselor, Arias hopes her journey as a first-generation college graduate — and her pursuit of multiple advanced degrees — serves as a source of inspiration for prospective students and their families.
“I love being able to connect with our prospective students and say, ‘You’re not alone in this process, it’s OK if you’re confused,’” she said. “We serve a wide array of students from various backgrounds, and we appreciate what every student brings to Adams State and their own personal experiences and their own history.”
