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The Latinos Empowered At DePaul (LEAD) Executive Board
Faculty Co-Chair
Elizabeth Florez PhD, RN, is the faculty co-chair for LEAD. She is an Assistant
Professor in the School of Nursing and is also an alumnus of the Master's Entry to
Nursing Practice Program at DePaul. Dr. Florez's research focus is on cardiovascular
disease and Latinos. She is an active volunteer and holds leadership positions for
many organizations including: the American Heart Association, Catholic Charities,
Illinois Hispanic Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor
Society of Nursing. Dr. Florez joined lead two years ago as a way to network with
other Latino faculty and staff at DePaul. She is excited to advance the LEAD mission
through her leadership role as faculty co-chair by continuing to address issues affecting the Latino
community and also helping create more professional development opportunities to truly EMPOWER
Latinos at DePaul.
Staff Co-Chair
Mariella Palacios has been a Talent Acquisition Consultant working at DePaul
University for over three years in the Office of Human Resources. She has been a
professional in Human Resources in both higher education and corporate
environments. In addition, she possesses over 15 years of experience working in
the food and consumer packaged goods, hospitality, and staffing agency
industries, as well as, owner of an insurance agency with proficiency in
management, sales and human resources. While working as a Talent Recruiter and
Consultant she has been a speaker at Dress for Success and served as the Chair of
the first DePaul Women Veterans professional Clothing Drive in partnership with
DePaul's Office of Veterans Affairs. She has been an active Executive Board member of LEAD since
January 2013. She joined LEAD as a way to get involved in the larger DePaul Latino community. As an
entrepreneur and former business owner, Mariella understands the importance of building partnerships
with the community and continues to be involved in service work for various causes and looks forward
to launching LEAD into the future and to build a great resource for the DePaul Latino Community.
Treasurer
Nydia Santana serves as an Assistant Director in the Office of Multicultural Student
Success of Student Affairs. She has been at DePaul for over a year and is excited to
serve as LEAD's Treasurer. Nydia joined LEAD to help grow the organization and
support Latin@ faculty and staff at DePaul.
Secretary
Judy Melgarejo serves as the assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs. She has been at DePaul
for over a year and a half and is looking forward to serving as LEAD's secretary. Judy is also a part of the
Service and Outreach Team within the DePaul Women's Network and is also the Co-Chair for the
Division of Student Affairs' Professional Development Committee. Judy is committed to DePaul's
Vincentian mission and plans to incorporate that into LEAD's future initiatives. Judy joined LEAD to
network with and advocate for professional Latino/as in higher education.
Member At-Large
Anita Grandao-Rossos Serves as the Director of federal grant program TRIO
Student Support Services under the Center for Access and Attainment/Enrollment
Management and Marketing. As a Latina staff member working for DePaul
University for 20 years, I have always felt it necessary to seek out other Latinos on
our campuses. I want to be part of or create community with others who may
come from a similar background or culture as myself and who are working in an
institution of higher learning. There would be opportunity to learn from each other
as well as opportunity to teach and mentor.
Member At-Large
Jennifer Mata, Ed.D. is an Assistant Professor at the College of Education,
Department of Teacher Education. She teaches in the undergraduate and graduate
Early Childhood Education programs, courses on methods and curriculum
development, child development, bilingual methods materials, and second
language acquisition. She is originally from Caracas, Venezuela and joined the
faculty at DePaul University in 2010. She is thrilled to be back contributing to LEAD
since she first collaborated in the launching of this organization in 2011. She is
looking to facilitate and promote support for the Latino community at DePaul, by
encouraging students, faculty, and staff to reach their goals and fulfill their potential.