Aliza Holzman-Cantu: Building A Stronger Community with Trinity Parents

By Luke Dias

It took more than 20 years, but Aliza Holzman-Cantu eventually found her way back to Trinity.

Cantu, 48, is the director of parent giving and engagement at Trinity and has been at this position for three years. Originally from Brownsville, Texas, she received a bachelor’s degree in communications at Trinity in 1992, followed by a master’s degree in teaching from Trinity in 1994. Since then, Cantu’s career path has always connected to Trinity in one way or another.

Her first job was as a first grade teacher, at the school where she interned while she was in her master’s program. She eventually settled in San Antonio, got married, and had two daughters. She made her next career move to work for a larger organization, and became the director of education at the San Antonio Children's Museum. A recommendation by her Trinity professor, Dr. Shari Albright, helped her get this opportunity. She later opted to become a consultant for the museum in order to spend more time with her children.

Several years later, Cantu used the experience she gained at Trinity to start her own art studio, which hired Trinity students. And then, in 2016, the vice president of Trinity’s parent giving department and a former peer of Cantu's at Trinity, offered her the current job. “I can directly link every single job that I’ve had, every profession that I’ve had, to this university,” says Cantu.

In her current position, Cantu serves as part of the Annual Giving Team, and works closely with the Parent Council, which meets parents who can offer their services to Trinity. “They’re the ones that you’ll see greeting others on campus; they’re the parents that you’ll see helping me with events, to engage families and also to welcome new families to our community,” says Cantu. “My main focus is to work with Trinity parents to engage them in our community.”

Cantu also does fundraising with the Annual Giving Programs to help raise money for scholarships and special programs. Through emails, letter campaigns, and the annual fundraising day, this program has raised $300,000 this academic year. The funds help make Trinity “more accessible to more students.”

In addition, Cantu serves as part of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee on the Parent Council, which was created shortly after she became employed at Trinity. Through this committee, Cantu works with members from across the Trinity community to promote diversity and inclusion. They try to keep in touch with members of the Trinity family and meet one-on-one with them, ensuring that all voices are heard. As a result, even parents of alumni donate to the university.

This whole experience has been challenging but rewarding for Cantu. “What I really love… is I can see the community being built amongst the parents,” she says. “Also, I get to see programs grow and flourish, and the students are fantastic.” In the past three years, she has redeveloped the Parent Council from having five members to 50, and the giving cycle is much more organized and has better longevity.

“She is… a proud alumna and is energetic and works really hard to make the parent experience one that benefits Trinity students,” says Kathy McNeill, senior director of Annual Giving Programs and Cantu’s supervisor.

All of this hard work is a testament to Cantu’s dedication to one of her favorite places.