Alumni Spotlight

ULM Alum: Monica Castro Butler

ORIGINALLY FROM BOGOTA, COLOMBIA, MONICA

Castro Butler came to the U.S. as a high school student, intent on learning the language and experiencing American culture. She graduated from Ouachita Parish High School and then returned to Colombia. Her Monroe host family, the Barnetts, encouraged Monica to return to the States and attend ULM, and after her Visa was approved, Monica returned to Monroe on the ULM Academic Scholarship. As an international student, with rather limited English proficiency, Monica dove into her studies. She could often be found perched on an upper floor of the library where she could overlook the bayou and study. Monica majored in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She loved talking to people and felt public relations would be a field in which she could give back to the community that had gifted her an American education.

ULM presented Monica with a bit of culture shock. Coming from such a large city, with round-the-clock gridlock, Monica appreciated the more rural Monroe community and its slower pace. While her studies required intense concentration, Monica found time to work with the International Student Association in Public Relations and Marketing. As a French minor, Monica studied one year abroad. The ULM scholarship allowed her to expand her knowledge of not only this country but others as well. Back on the ULM campus, Monica spent her leisure time tailgating, as she enjoys all sports. She rarely missed an Oozeball tournament, football or basketball game.

Her ULM mentors supplemented the familial links that Monica left back home in Colombia. While the transition was challenging in a completely new place, Monica learned how resilient she is. Dr. Bill Rambin and Dr. Mara Loeb served as her advisors. Monica describes them as being caring, patient, and warm - qualities that reminded her of her people back home. The advisors helped Monica with little things, like doing her taxes - something Monica wasn’t used to. Though she didn’t have a car, her advisors and people in the Monroe community would make sure Monica had transportation, and they often invited her to dine with them on American holidays. Their caring, loving hearts helped Monica stay focused, complete her degree and not feel so alone.

At one of those ULM basketball games, Monica was spotted by Nick Butler. They eventually took a communication class together, started dating, and later married. Nick graduated in Exercise Science and went on to get his doctorate in Physical Therapy. When Monica graduated from ULM, she took a job with Chase Bank in the Line of Credit department. She quickly realized she wanted to continue her education and enrolled in the Master’s program in the ULM Department of Communication. She is most grateful to Dr. Keith Parker, then the Director of Construction Management, who offered Monica a job in the department, as international scholarship students were not allowed to work off campus. Upon graduation, Monica became the Program Director at the West Ouachita Senior Center where she worked for two years.

Twelve years ago, Monica ventured into healthcare, handling marketing, PR, and community relations for Sterlington Rehabilitation Hospital. She promotes services and organizes events, working with doctors’ offices, nursing homes, and home health services. Again, with this professional role, Monica loves giving back to the community, using her interpersonal skills to better the lives of local residents in a field as integral as healthcare. Monica and Nick have an 8-year-old son named Lucas, who loves sports and cheering on the Warhawks. Lucas plays basketball, football, and baseball, which his parents love. They take yearly trips to Colombia to visit Monica’s family, showing Lucas his mother’s heritage and unique culture.

As a member of the ULM Alumni Association, Monica works closely with the ULM Foundation, directly impacting student’s lives through scholarships. Without someone believing and investing in her education, she wouldn’t have the life she now loves. Monica also recruited her sister Eddna Castro to be a ULM graduate student in business. Though she left her home as a teenager to embark on a brief stint in Northeast Louisiana, Monica has now made Monroe her home.