Carlos Lozoya

Before Carlos Lozoya enrolled at MassBay Community College, he did not think college was the right path for him.

After graduating from high school in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada, he enrolled at a college in Idaho to wrestle. After one semester, he decided college was not the right fit and joined the National Guard as a medic. Soon, he realized he wanted to become an Army Ranger and enlisted in the U.S. Army. While serving in the Army, Carlos' wife attended community college in Washington, and he watched her pursue her educational goals. When her graduation coincided with the end of his military contract and she was accepted to Harvard University, the couple decided to move across the country to Boston.

"When we moved, I wasn't sure what I was going to do," Carlos said. "She encouraged me to give college another try. She is the reason I went back to school and a huge motivator who encouraged me to grow and pursue my goals. I had no idea what I wanted to study at first, and my brother, who works in the IT field, thought I would enjoy computer science. I loved math, and working on software was interesting, so it all kind of fit together for me." 

Always enjoying the drive to the Wellesley Hills campus, Carlos found beauty in the commute and the community he built at MassBay. He said his military experience helped him put things into perspective and shape his future path. Looking back, he said he struggled as a student when he was younger because he lacked the structure he needed to succeed. With a second chance at higher education, he discovered that he genuinely enjoyed learning and his coursework. For the first time in his academic career, Carlos excelled in the computer science associate degree program, earning a place on the Dean's List and President's List every semester he attended MassBay.

"I loved my coursework and found the interactions with my classmates diverse in so many ways," Carlos said. "I always tell people about the wonderful experience I had at MassBay. The MassBay community is amazing. I miss being on campus and the connections I made with professors and classmates. One thing I love about MassBay is the Veterans Club and the community of veteran students. It was always great to have a place to go on campus and connect with other veterans. As a nontraditional student, those interactions made my experience even richer."

What began as a second chance at higher education became a transformative experience that helped Carlos discover not only a love of learning but also a passion for teaching.

Carlos, who transferred to Tufts University as a computer science major in 2024, describes his experience there as fantastic in a different way. While it was initially harder to build the same connections he found at MassBay, he has carved out his own path. In addition to attending Tufts, Carlos teaches jiu-jitsu, an experience that helped him discover a passion for teaching. Inspired by the exceptional professors he has had and his own experience teaching martial arts, he decided to pursue a future that combines both interests. He credits the close-knit, one-of-a-kind relationships he built at MassBay for helping shape that decision.

One relationship in particular stood out as life-changing. Carlos said MassBay professors go above and beyond for their students, and their support can make all the difference in helping students pursue their dreams.

"Professor Igor Brayakhtar is an amazing professor, extremely encouraging and supportive," Carlos said. "I have kept in touch with him while at Tufts, and he continues to cheer me on and offer career advice. Part of my goal is to someday become a professor and use my love of teaching to break down complex topics and help students understand difficult concepts. Because of that relationship, Professor Brayakhtar nominated me for the American Mathematical Society Facilitated Graduate Admissions Program (F-GAP), and I was accepted. This is the first step in my pursuit of a Ph.D. The next step is applying to doctoral programs but just knowing that he has that much faith in my abilities is amazing."

Carlos added, "This scholar’s program wouldn't have been possible without Professor Brayakhtar and the community I built at MassBay. Through being a teaching assistant and teaching jiu-jitsu, I learned that I love the energy teaching brings. Breaking down complex topics into digestible pieces and watching someone understand a concept, that's exciting. Right now, I watch students while I'm teaching them jiu-jitsu, and I love when they feel accomplished. I want to someday bring that into a classroom. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Carlos lives in Rhode Island with his wife and their two dogs. He expects to graduate from Tufts University in the spring of 2027. His future goals include earning a Ph.D. and becoming a university professor and researcher.

"MassBay helped me realize what I'm capable of. Now I want to help other students discover what they're capable of, too. It's been an incredible journey," Carlos said.