First-Generation Student Ariana Bribiesca Awarded Belonging and Social Justice Fellowship for Balancing Faith and Finances Program
To address asymmetries in financial literacy among her colleagues, first-generation Seaver College senior Ariana Bribiesca founded the Balancing Faith and Finances program, an initiative that will disseminate financial wellness resources to fellow Seaver students. For her efforts, Bribiesca, in partnership with her faculty mentor Diana Martínez, associate professor of communication, was awarded the Seaver College Student Fellowship for Belonging and Social Justice for the 2025–2026 academic year.
“The need for financial literacy extends beyond the first-generation community. For many, including international students, navigating the system here in the US can be very confusing,” says Bribiesca. “I am grateful to have the platform to contribute financial wellness resources to a large population of students here at Pepperdine.”
Bribiesca (left) with members of Pepperdine's First Gen Club
The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Bribiesca shares that her experience as a first-generation American motivated her to work toward uplifting those vulnerable to financial stress. She notes that economic strain can negatively affect students’ mental health—diminishing their ability to achieve academically and widening the gap between their college experience and that of natural-born citizens.
Along with on-campus workshops, Bribiesca’s initiative will consist of curating online resources on pertinent topics such as building and maintaining good credit, understanding student loan borrowing, and creating sustainable savings habits guided by faith-based principles. Bribiesca plans to share these resources with internal Pepperdine communities such as the RISE Institute, Office of Intercultural Affairs, Student Care Team, and the Hub for Spiritual Life.
“Scripture addresses the importance of being good stewards of what God has gifted, and finances are one of those gifts,” says Bribiesca. “I believe it is essential for all to learn how to manage money, which includes understanding things like credit, debt, budgeting, and investing.”
Bribiesca and her parents
Martínez, Bribiesca’s mentor, who immigrated to the US from Ecuador and was a first-generation college student herself, shares that she was delighted to support Bribiesca in launching this initiative, noting that it will have a sustained impact on the first-generation community and broader student population at Seaver.
“During our first meeting, Ariana discussed her experiences, research interests, and her desire to increase students’ awareness of financial literacy,” says Martínez. “I was so proud of her when she secured this fellowship, and I feel that it is an honor to work with her on creating something that I, too, would have benefited from when I was a student.”
The Seaver College Student Fellowship for Belonging and Social Justice is awarded to students who have demonstrated an abiding commitment to issues belonging to social justice with a potential to provide positive impact at Seaver College. Along with her current initiatives, Bribiesca plans to organize student leadership to ensure the availability of financial wellness resources and continuation of workshop opportunities after her graduation.
“I am grateful for my background because it taught me how to actively pursue resources,” says Bribiesca. “I never want to be a gatekeeper of knowledge. I want to share what I have learned with my friends, family, and other Seaver students, and I will continue on that path.”