Xavier-Thomas Mendoza, MSEd

Academic Advisor

Where is your hometown? Grand Blanc, MI
What’s one highlight from your first semester of college? Making my first set of new friends from college was fun!
What do you wish you’d known when you started college? That community college classes before starting undergrad helps you graduate earlier!
What do you like about advising first and second year students? Helping new students learn to have a better experience than I did!
What’s your favorite thing about Loyola? The student population is a lot more diverse than my undergraduate university. I went to a 89% majority population and it’s awesome to see all the different backgrounds and identities around campus.
What’s your favorite thing about Chicago? The food! I love the different types of food you can get from the different neighborhoods.
What do you like to do in your spare time? My free time is split between quality time with my fiance, hours of pickleball almost daily, video games, and hanging out with my two Russian Blue cats - Ube and Matcha!

Guest Speaker

2026 - EDCG 582: Law and Ethics in Higher Education | California Lutheran University - Professor Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza, Ph.D. | 2/19/2026
- Higher Education professional experience on use and application of the first amendment and higher education policy
2022 - Guest Speaker - Asian American Student Leadership | Northern Illinois University - Asian American Resource Center / Kappa Phi Lambda | 4/30/2022

Presenter

2025 - Student Affairs 101 - Master's Student Conference | Northern Illinois University / ACPA Illinois Chapter | 10/24/2025
- Creating a Community for Marginalized Populations with a First Year Seminar | Co-Presenter, Kaycee Sakal, EdS

Bachelor of Science, Photojournalism, Central Michigan University
Master of Science in Education, Higher Education and Student Affairs, Northern Illinois University
In-Progress - Doctor of Education, Higher Education, Loyola University Chicago

ACPA - College Student Educators International
- ACPA Coalitions: Asian Pacific American Network (APAN) - 1st Year Co-Chair

Loyola University Chicago
- UNIV 101: First Year Seminar - Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025