Alumni Spotlight: Jesús De Santiago '20
A Conversation with Jesús De Santiago '20
October 21, 2026
This October, we’re proud to feature Jesús De Santiago ‘20, who returned to campus last week for our Alumni Culture & Community Celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month. A Communication Studies graduate of TCU, Jesús is now an Analyst at Fairmount Energy, building a career on the belief that purpose is something you keep discovering.
Rewriting the Pathway
For Jesús, finding your purpose doesn’t come with a deadline.
Finding your purpose has no time limit, and that’s okay,” he says. “Life is all about rewriting the predetermined pathway.
He credits ESD with giving him room to explore. “ESD allowed me to find different interests and challenge myself, knowing that failing was a possibility,” Jesús reflects. “It’s important to understand that our purpose is not defined by our comfort level.
The ESD Foundation: Resilience and Community
Jesús’s most vivid ESD memory is of his final year, when the Class of 2020 finished high school online. “It’s impossible to look back and not think about our last year at ESD as online students. Everything changed,” he says. “But when we came together and walked later that summer, we showed the community our level of resilience.”
His favorite ESD tradition is a little more everyday. “Chicken tenders for lunch will always be my favorite day of the week.”
Education and Professional Excellence
- Undergraduate: Texas Christian University (TCU); Communication Studies
- Current Role: Analyst, Fairmount Energy
Purpose: Where Purpose and Action Meet
Jesús’s view of purpose is practical. Discovering it takes time, it grows through challenge, and it shows up in what you do.
Advice for Current Students
Asked what he’d tell a student hoping to follow a similar path, Jesús keeps it short: “Purpose and actions go hand in hand.”
Every day, our alumni are fulfilling ESD’s mission by making an incredible impact on the world. From innovative entrepreneurs to community leaders to creative trailblazers, their stories are a testament to the power of our community and the values we share. This series is dedicated to showcasing the diverse paths our alumni have taken and the meaningful work they are doing. We believe their journeys will inspire you and highlight the many ways our alumni are living lives of purpose.
Are you an alum with a story to share? We want to hear from you!
Each month, we feature a new Alumni Spotlight, and we're looking for alumni stories to highlight your success, purpose, and impact. Whether you've launched a new business, led a community initiative, achieved a personal goal, or made a difference in your field, we want to celebrate your accomplishments. Ready to be featured? Submit your updates and achievements through the form below for a chance to be our next alumni spotlight.
