If a company is made of many parts, human resources (HR) is a vital organ. HR employees at Azusa Pacific University ensure that Christ is at the center of creating an environment for students, faculty, and staff to thrive. Leslie Castro-Kolta, MBM ’22 found APU through her master’s program and the community drew her in from the start. She now serves as one of APU’s business partners in the Office of Human Resources.
Originally from Pasadena, Calif., Castro-Kolta’s passion for art history and painting led her to New York for her undergraduate degree. Initially, her goal was to become a curator and hone her skills as a charcoal artist. Through different life circumstances, she began developing an interest in psychology, which is how she began envisioning a career in HR.
Returning to Southern California, Castro-Kolta entered APU’s research psychology and data analysis program while working at Automatic Data Processing (ADP). As she met new people through APU, she discovered a job in admissions and transitioned to working there in 2019. More sure of her interest in HR, Castro-Kolta switched to the master of business management program (MBM) with an HR concentration. Upon graduating in 2022, Castro-Kolta became a recruiter at APU. For a short period of time she left to lead a talent management team at an aerospace company. Through many twists and turns, she found herself back at APU, having told her previous supervisor that she would love to return if there was an HR business partner role. “I loved APU so much,” she said. “The people always made the workplace a warm place to be, so I knew that God was calling me to serve in this community again.”
Implementing her people skills in HR provides Castro-Kolta with fulfillment.
What Castro-Kolta loves most about APU is that she can pray with her coworkers. She recalled a time when her uncle was sick, and she had to leave to be with her family. “APU is set apart from other places. When my coworkers paused to pray with me I felt immensely comforted,” she said. It truly comes down to the community that puts God First that Castro-Kolta treasures.
When she’s not working, Castro-Kolta enjoys cooking with her husband Anthony and gardening with her infant son, Lars. “We love being outdoors and gardening in the backyard,” she said. Castro-Kolta tends to her vegetable and flower garden while Lars enjoys playing in the dirt.
Reflecting on her life, Castro-Kolta now sees how all the unexpected detours were God directing her to the path she’s meant to take. “In life there’s never a linear route. In all aspects, whether it be career or relationships, God leads you to places you never thought you’d go, but are all part of his divine plan.” Serving at APU is a destination Castro-Kolta is grateful for.