Leyda Becker ('01)

Leyda Becker (’01) of Bowling Green, Ky., is the International Communities Liaison with the City of Bowling Green. She coordinates the City’s role in communicating and working effectively with the diverse communities represented in Bowling Green, and she serves as an advocate for Limited English Proficient (LEP) individuals who may seek City services.

During her time at WKU, Becker majored in Corporate and Organizational Communications. Amid the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, she’s supported communications and emergency management initiatives for LEP citizens.

“When nearly 16 percent of the City’s residents are foreign-born and more than 89 languages are spoken in our largest school district, the challenges with navigating information and resources for those with LEP is magnified, particularly as we developed a COVID-19 response and disseminated information that was constantly pivoting during the first few weeks,” Becker explained. “I was also called in to assist with local emergency management efforts to ramp up COVID-19 testing for underserved communities, immigrants and refugees. 

While Becker never expected having to serve in this way, she knew it was the right thing to do to keep her community safe.   

“I jumped in to assist in whatever ways I could to help coordinate 11 pop-up COVID-19 clinics,” she said. “At the time you don’t think about the risk you are putting yourself in or exposing your loved ones to the virus—you don’t have time to process those things.”

Becker said the pandemic underscored the fact that relationships can be your biggest asset.

“My office is composed of one single staff, so I rely heavily on community partners to connect the public I serve with on-demand resources and assistance,” she noted. “But in turn, you also give back wherever you can, collaborating in ways that are necessary for the overall good of your community. In particular, utilizing my bilingual skills to help partner with governmental organizations has been a way to fill in the gaps, and it’s a skill set that has proven to be incredibly beneficial during this time of crisis.”

Becker says she is grateful for the part WKU has played in her story.

“I am so proud to be a WKU Hilltopper and live in this community,” she said. “Both of my parents were international students and graduates of WKU, and I could not be happier to be part of that legacy.  Bowling Green has been my home for 27 years and a large part of that journey has been at WKU.”