Misty Huacuja-LaPointe
Director, Pre-Professional Advising
Pronouns: She/Her
Contact
Building & Room:
205 SES
Email:
About
Misty started at UIC as the Director of Pre-Professional Advising in December 2015. She grew up in Texas, but has since lived so many places, it is hard to answer the "where are you from" question. Since Chicagoland has been the place she's lived the longest in her adult life, Illinois must be home! Misty received her BA in anthropology/archaeology with a concentration in Latin American studies from Grinnell College and her Master's Degree in Higher Education and Leadership Studies from Iowa State University. The first 9 years of her career were in admissions with highly selective liberal arts colleges, before she turned to student services and advising as the Diversity Coordinator for an osteopathic medicine and health sciences university. Eventually Misty and her family relocated to the Boston area for several years where she worked in academic advising and program management before taking on the pre-health advising and then pre-professional advising at UIC. Misty has had the opportunity to serve in leadership positions with the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) and on several AAMC committees working towards improving access to medical school. She was awarded the UIC CAPE award in 2022, and the first ever Rising Star Award - Emerging Leaders in Pre-Health Advising from NAAHP in 2024.
As a Mexican-American and a first-generation college student, Misty enjoys working with UIC students in particular and is proud to put her accumulated knowledge and experience to use for UIC students and alumni. She is currently the assistant coach for her daughter's travel softball team and most of her "free" time is spent on softball. When she is not working or parenting, you can find Misty reading, crocheting, or experimenting with low carb/gluten free baking.