About Felipe Lopez Sustaita & Associates

Dr. Felipe Lopez Sustaita's Biography

Felipe Lopez Sustaita is a higher education advocate, community leader, and former migrant farm worker. His passion for higher education is fueled by his dedication to lifting communities out of poverty. Felipe works to advance educational, professional, and entrepreneurial opportunities for underrepresented communities. He also regularly returns to work in the agricultural fields of Michigan with his four sons to show them the value of hard work and to keep himself grounded. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and

Ferris State University.

Felipe picked oranges, grapefruit, onions, strawberries, asparagus, squash, blueberries, peaches, pears, tomatoes, peppers, apples, and other fruits and vegetables. In 2014, he completed his Doctorate in Education with a specialization in Community College Leadership from Ferris State University. Felipe is very passionate about higher education, as he knows that higher education is a pathway out of poverty. He is married to Dr. Danielle M. Flores Lopez and has four sons: Felipe, Amancio, Sion, and Eladio.

Felipe served as an advisor to both Republican and Democrat Governors of Michigan from 2016- 2021, he was the voice for half of million Latino/Hispanic constituents in the State of Michigan. In 2018 Felipe was recognized by the National Football League (NFL), the Detroit Lions, and recorded a Google Talk. He was also selected to be a W.K. Kellogg Foundation Fellow (2019-2021). Felipe has traveled to over 20 countries and in 2022 he published his book “You Can’ Run From Your Destiny, Lessons From A Migrant Worker”. In 2022 Felipe earned his Black Belt in Taekwondo, and was awarded the Key to the City of his hometown Donna, Texas. Felipe is also committed to teaching religious classes to children 3rd grade to 8th grade.

Testimonial

Dr. Lopez Sustaita is a true inspiration. His personal story of overcoming obstacles conveys powerful lessons of perseverance, resilience, and the importance of chasing your dreams. His words resonated with me deeply and reminded me of the importance of staying true to my passions and working towards my goals no matter what challenges I may face. His story is a testament to the human spirit and reminds us all that no matter where we come from, we have the power to shape our own destiny. If you are looking to be inspired, motivated, uplifted, and develop a renewed sense of purpose, I highly recommend you book Dr. Lopez Sustaita for your next event.

Phillip Seaborn, M.Ed.

Assistant Director for Undergraduate Diversity

Michigan State University

Testimonial

"Dr. Lopez Sustaita is such a humble individual. We were very happy to have him come to Grand Valley State University! His message resonated with a lot of individuals in the audience (students, staff and faculty). Some of themes included in his message were: resiliency, giving back, navigating a society that was not built with you in mind, uplifting others as you personally progress. I received compliments on bringing him to campus. He kept the entire room engaged with his testimony and left people thinking critically about their own lives and where they want to see themselves in the future."

Thalia Guerra-Flores (she/her/hers)
Assistant Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs

Grand Valley State University

Testimonial

"I really admired how real Dr. Lopez Sustaita kept the conversation and did not try to sugarcoat his experiences. Dr. Lopez Sustaita stayed authentic throughout his entire presentation, which made it easy for not only students to relate to him but also faculty/staff. He shared his story with a group of first-year CAMP scholars, and his story resonated with them because he displayed that perseverance, and a strong support system will allow you to reach your dreams. I heard students react to the stories he shared, which showed that he had the room engaged!"
Ashley Bravo (she/her/hers)

Director, College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)

Western Michigan University

Testimonial

Dr. Felipe’s inspirational story and message provided an educational opportunity for our students, faculty & staff at Cuyahoga Community College. His presentation highlighted the immigrant experience, and helped us understand from a human perspective, the challenges and barriers that migrant workers face, including limited access to education. In his formative years, Felipe worked in the fields with his family, and moved from state to state which created a lack of stability and solid foundation to build a future for himself. Nonetheless, he persevered and went on to become a great family man, and successful higher education professional that he is today.

Dr. Magda Gómez

Executive Director, Diversity & Inclusion

Cuyahoga Community College -District Office

Testimonial

On behalf of our Network for Undocumented Scholarship Access (NUSA) from Chicago Public Schools, I am happy to have learned more about Dr. Felipe Sustaita's story. As a male Latino, migrant farmworker to now holding an administrative role in the Community College spectrum and wearing multiple hats/roles, he was able to provide practitioners with a sense of hope for the youth we continue to serve for success. We need more people representing us and there is a need to share their stories for professionals to also know they are not alone in this work. Thank you, Dr. Sustaita, for your words of wisdom, for planting the seeds, and for all the amazing work you are doing for our immigrant communities.

Susana Mares, M.A. (Pronouns: she, her/ella)

Undocumented Champion Program Manager/C.A.U.S.E Advisor

Office of School Counseling and Post-Secondary Advising

Chicago Public Schools

About Felipe Lopez Sustaita & Associates

Dr. Felipe Lopez Sustaita's Biography

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