#14 – The Connections Pact, with Shantel Dixon

AVIDly Adulting June 16, 2025 34 min

In this episode of AVIDly Adulting, Dr. Aliber Lozano welcomes Shantel Dixon, an AVID alum and Special Assistant to the President and CEO of AVID Center, to explore the power of building meaningful and sustainable relationships at school, work, and beyond. From beginning as a shy student to becoming a mentor and community builder, Shantel shares how authentic connections shaped her career and her life, including a powerful tradition she calls the “Grad Pact.”

Listeners will discover how to foster connection while setting boundaries, why it’s important to show up for others, and how professional relationships can become lasting support systems. Whether you’re starting a new job or looking to deepen the relationships you have with colleagues at work, this episode offers timely advice on turning everyday interactions into a foundation for long-term success.

Dr. Aliber Lozano
Head of Teaching and Learning, AVID Center

Everything’s new, and it’s going to feel uncomfortable, but just keeping in mind that at some point, every other person in that building was the new person, and they were also uncomfortable. So it’s not an isolated feeling, but get comfortable with not always being comfortable.

Shantel Dixon, Special Assistant to the President and CEO, AVID Center

Video Interview

  • Shantel’s Journey From AVID Student to AVID Teacher
  • The Grad Pact: A Commitment to Support
  • Building Community in the Workplace
  • Navigating Professional Relationships
  • The Importance of Authenticity
  • Mentorship and Networking
  • Avoiding Common Mistakes
  • Final Advice for New Professionals

The Connections Pact, with Shantel Dixon

AVID Alumni
38 min

Keywords

Sustainable connections, networking, AVID family, community building, professional relationships, boundaries, risk-taking, mentorship, career growth, authenticity, support system, collaboration, over-sharing, imposter syndrome, workplace dynamics.

Transcript

This transcript is under construction. Please check back later.