One Conversation, A Career in History-Making Moments

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Angel Lopez ’04 walked into the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Career and Professional Development Center during her senior year with nerves and no clear blueprint for her future. She walked out with an interview slot which would change everything.

“I remember being nervous,” Lopez reminisced. “I think if you’re not nervous before an interview, there’s a problem!” 

That day, an Air Force recruiter was on campus meeting with students. Lopez, a communication major with a minor in public relations, signed up for an interview with the Air Force’s Public Affairs Palace Acquire Program, which she learned about through a visit with Career Services. During the interview, she was asked where she would be willing to go. Texas was an option that felt safe and familiar.

“But I said, ‘You know what? I’m open to anything,’” Lopez said.

“Anything” turned out to be Scott Air Force Base in Illinois — a place she had never imagined living. A single decision launched a civilian career in military public affairs which would eventually place Lopez at the center of some of the nation’s most historic and solemn moments, including presidential inaugurations, state funerals, and major interagency responses. But it all started with a resume review, interview preparation, and the courage to show up.

Lopez graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. At the time, she had interests in politics and storytelling but no fixed plan.

“I knew I liked to do a number of different things,” Lopez said. “What exactly I wanted to do on a day-to-day basis, I had absolutely no idea.”

Career Services helped provide direction, as Lopez’s previous application experience only included retail and restaurant jobs.

“I did not know how to build a resume, and they helped me build one,” Lopez said. “They helped me understand what to wear, what not to wear, how interviews work. Those foundational tools mattered.”

Chau Hoang ’13, Director of the TAMU-CC Career and Professional Development Center, believes Lopez’s story reflects what the center strives to do every day.

“Our mission is simple,” Hoang said. “We help students connect the dots between what they’re studying and what’s possible.”

Hoang said many students underestimate how transformative early touchpoints with the Career Center can be.

“You don’t know what you don’t know,” Hoang said. “That’s why we encourage students to engage early — attend career fairs, meet recruiters, do mock interviews, and get feedback on resumes. Opportunity often starts with preparation.”

Lopez said her communication degree plan gave her the framework for everything which followed. Her coursework, from film and television to small group communication, shaped how she thinks about messaging, strategy, and relationships.

“Communication is not just what comes out of your mouth,” Lopez said. “It’s nonverbal. It’s what someone isn’t saying. It’s how you visually communicate.”

Within her first year in Illinois, the uncertainty faded.

“I was scared at first,” Lopez said. “I’d never left Texas. But once I got immersed in the work — media relations, strategic communication, community outreach — I realized, this is what I’m meant to be doing.”

Today, Lopez serves as a National Events Public Affairs Advisor and Planner. Her work has included coordinating public affairs for presidential events, working closely with the family of President Jimmy Carter during his state funeral, and supporting interagency responses during national crises. Her career has also included time as communications director for League City, located south of Houston, which reinforced her commitment to public service. She’s also worked in New Jersey and Tennessee and trained in Maryland.

“I’ve always wanted to take care of people and give back,” Lopez said. “Serving, whether in a public or private capacity, is important to me.”

She also volunteers at a food pantry and emphasizes the importance of relationships in both professional and personal settings.

“In crisis situations and major events, knowing who you can call for help is built upon the relationships you foster along the way,” Lopez said. “Students need to understand the importance of having conversations. Pick up the phone. Build relationships. That’s where the real work happens.”

Lopez still urges students to start where she did.

“Just go, step into Career Services,” Lopez said. “Take advantage of the resources. There are opportunities you don’t even know about until you walk in.”

Lopez’s message is especially timely as the Career and Professional Development Center prepares for a new slate of employer visits, workshops, and career fairs this spring.

“The difference between a missed opportunity and a life-changing one can be as simple as showing up,” Hoang said.

For Lopez, her decision to walk through the Career Center doors continues to place her at the center of history, making her Islander Impact.