Friday, April 10th Workshop Session
Experiences of Latina Students in STEM fields: Their own voices, their stories…
Dr. Elsa Gonzalez
Texas A&M Corpus Christi
The purpose of this workshop is to present our research innovative designs to Latina Women in the STEM
fields. We will have a panel of researchers that are currently collecting data, performing a literature
review of Latina in Higher Education STEM, workin g on creating documentation process of how to retain
Latina women in Higher Education STEM fields. Presentation process will include background
information of researchers and diversity in education as students and scholars.
Addressing Latino Stereotypes and Rape Culture
Laura Zárate
Arte Sana Founding Executive Director
Victim blaming, college rape, and street harassment have increasingly made the news and fomented social
media activism. Yet how involved are Latina and Latino students in these discussio ns? This session will
review rape culture manifestations within some Latino communities, address the role that Latina and
Latino stereotypes play in victim blaming and how Latino demonization is perpetuated. Attendees will
also learn about bystander intervention, how to support survivors, and what students can do to promote
safer and more respectful campuses and communities.
Latina-Chicana Feminism
Dr. Esther Quintana
Hispanic Studies at Texas A&M University
Drawing from contemporary coming-of-age narratives by Latina authors the workshop will focus on the
challenges Latinas face to reconcile their urge for autonomy and at the same time assume their family
responsibilities. Latino protagonists must not only negotiate their autonomy within one single socie ty but
rather with two. This coming-of-age process entails two possibilities: either, the protagonist assimilates to
mainstream culture and leaves behind the restrictions posed by their heritage culture (which gives
priority to collective needs over indivi dual desires) or remains connected to their native culture while
attempting a delicate balance between achieving self -determination while they also fulfill their family and
community roles. The seminar will focus on fictional Latinas who achieve such delic ate balance by
choosing education and the arts to transcend traditional and stereotypical notions of womanhood, and by
serving their communities as artists who convey the struggles and achievements of their heritage cultures.
Latino Males: Under the Radar at PWI’s and their Need for Mentors
Dr. Griselda Flores
Stephen F. Austin University
While national reports highlight that Latinos are the fasting growing minority group in the United States,
there is far less dialogue concerning their low college gr aduation rates in comparison to their high college
enrollment rates (Census, 2011); specifically pertaining to Latino males’ degree completion (Saenz &
Ponjuan, 2009). While the gender gap in higher education exists across all racial groups (Saenz & Ponjua n,
2009), a resilient trend among Latino males is often ignored when compared to their African American
counterparts. Due to Latino males’ underrepresentation in higher education, there is a great need for
faculty and staff to be knowledgeable of ways to a ssist and support these students through mentorship
relationships (Santos & Reigadas, 2002). During the roundtable discussion, participants will learn about
Latino males’ low graduation rates and hear from a first -generation Latino male who attends a PWI. They
will then engage in a thought-provoking conversation concerning the different ways Latino students can
find a mentor on campus and have input on how faculty and staff can be supportive mentors to Latino
males.
Leadership and Alignment
Leonaldo P Cervantes
Texas A&M University '71
This presentation goes into depth discussion on the traits that make for a great team. These principles can
be applied in corporate or student endeavors related to getting a team of people to work toward a
common goal. Mr. Cervantes will adjust his workshop to align with the conference's theme; in Team
building a as well as in the corporate-world it is extremely important to understand your identity as well
as your own.
It Starts With Me! A Grounding to Inclusion
Victor Santana-Melgoza
Diversity Talks
This workshop is meant to serve as a foundation to further conversations around diversity and social
justice. It Starts with Me! is a curriculum based on the premise that if we want to build inclusive
enviroments, then the process must part with the individual self. This workshop is highly interactive, and
offers opportunity for small group dialogues, large group conversations, and self -reflection. Topics
covered in this workshop are social vs. personal identity, social salien cy, and worldview. This workshop is
good for residence life and orientation staffs, and other groups wanting a foundation to build on social
justive conversations.
Saturday, April 11th Workshop Sessions
Identity Poetics
Richard Blanco
Inagural Poet and New York Times Best seller
Whether speaking as the Cuban Blanco or the American Richard, the homebody or the world traveler, the scared
boy or the openly gay man, the engineer or the inaugural poet, Blanco’s writings possess a story -rich quality that
easily illuminates the human spirit. His captivating images and accessible narratives invite readers and audiences
to see themselves in his poems, which for him are like mirrors in front of which we stand side by side with him —
each one of us gazing into our respective lives blurred together with his, connecting us all across social, political,
and cultural gaps. For in the end, his work asks himself those universal questions we all ask ourselves on our own
journeys: Where am I from? Where do I belong? Who am I in this world?
The Road to Empowerment: A Journey of Self -Identity
Alicia De La Rosa
Stephen F. Austin University, Multicultural Affairs
This round table discussion will engage participants in conversations over what it means to be an
empowered Latino. Paulo Freire, a Brazilian philosopher and world -renowned author, once stated "No one
is born fully-formed; it is through self-experience in the world that we become what we are". Through
interactive activities participants will identify key ideas narratives that have led to the development and
establishment of their identity, followed by a discussion on how to utilize their story as a means of
empowerment.
Advocating for Incoming Hispanic Graduate Students
Angelique Nevarez, Dagoberto Heredia, Jiovani Reyes, Yesenia Suchil
Hispanic/Latino Graduate Student Association (HLGSA)
The purpose of this workshop is to create a safe space for Latina/o graduate and undergraduate students
and ask questions about the Latina/o experience in higher education. Pr esenters will discuss their
experiences in their respective fields of interest in hopes of demystifying the graduate training process.
Presentations such as these may be particularly useful for Latina/o college students in light of recent
studies that highlight educational disparities for this community. Presenters will intentionally discuss
culturally-specific factors that may influence a Latina(o)s persistence in higher education and their
success as professionals.
Empowering Cultural Identity through Mask-Making
Wilma Cordova
Stephen F. Austin University
The technique of mask-making in cultural identity is an empowering catalyst for self -reflection and selfmotivation. For decades the use of art in the psychological healing process has proven effective in the
therapeutic process. Preliminary research is pointing toward the use of mask -making as a powerful
technique in cultural identity. Mask -making is an art technique used to teach multicultural education in
K-12 grades. The technique is also being used at the college level to teach cultural competence and
cultural identity. The use of art is often overlooked as a tool for intellectual stimulation yet art is a
creative and nonthreatening form of learning that integrates all the senses. Participants will be involved
in the technique of mask-making and discussion that addresses Ruiz’s Hispanic American cultural identity
model and its current impact on institutional racism and current political climate.
“Ni De Aqui, Ni de Alla”: An Identity Issue
Lisa Y. Ramos
Texas A&M History Dept. and LMAS Minor Program
For instance, if you are from Mexican descent and you were born in the United States, you might have
encountered an issue of identity. You might not be fluent in Spanish so you do not completely identify
with the Mexican community, but you might not completely be accepted into the American community
either because of your appearance or your “accent.” Who are you then? This workshop will provide
information about how the minor can expose students to histori cal figures who have struggle with their
identity in the past, and also enable them to learn about the presence of Latinos in the United States. (She
will modify it to make it less about the minor)
The Latino(a) Experience: Course Activity Module
Samira Lopez
Division of Student Life & Learning Texas Lutheran University
Who am I? Who am I in relation to others? It might be argued that everyone in today’s society struggles to
understand and articulate their often multiple identities, especially as a Latino (a) living in the United
States. This presentation will look at the development of “The Latino(a) Experience” course activity
module, at Texas Lutheran University. This unique interactive course allows students to self -consciously
discover their own personal/social identity, through diverse experiences, construction of identity and
social movements that have made Latino(a)s visible today in this country. The course is taught through
interactive sociological readings, media, stories, community projects and o ther relevant perspectives. This
presentation will give students a small glimpse of the course activity module and will allow for a better
intercultural global understanding of Latino(a)s roles, culture, community, etc.
Identity Poetics: Self Declarations Through Spoken Word
Elizabeth Acevedo
2014 National Champion Slam Poet
National Poetry Slam Champion, Elizabeth Acevedo, will facilitate an hours workshop where students
will utilize spoken word poetry as a catalyst for honest discourse across lines of differences and
vulnerability as pertain to race, gender, sexuality, and religion. Students will read poetry, discuss, and
write then share. Through this initial introduction into performance poetry, students will explore the
power of their own identities and how they can make an impact in their respective organizations and
beyond.
The CAMAC Legacy: A Latina/o Student Involvement Journey
Dr. Ricardo Montelongo
Sam Houston State University
MSC CAMAC has provided a legacy of leadership and cultural development for many members. In this
workshop, we will provide a unique opportunity for current college students to hear from former members
who have stayed in regular contact with each other for well over 20 years. These members have not only
stayed in close contact with each other, but they have also contributed to their communities in many
interesting and different ways. They share a common bond i n their college experience – they were all
involved with a Latina/o college student organization. Come hear how their college involvement
impacted their professional and personal identities and created a strong “familia” that has lasted well after
graduation. Panelists will reflect why this has occurred and why involvement is crucial for your college
experience. They will also share why staying connected to each other is crucial for success, both now and
in the future.
B.A.C.H.A.T.A
Theresa Mendoza and Roberto Avila
Stephen F. Austin University
Want to learn how music and dancing can help you identify and embrace your culture? Than come to,
Beneficial Awareness of Cultural History in Art Through Application (B.A.C.H.A.T.A). Participants will
learn the history behind how Bachata was shaped through different cultural influences. And learn the
basic steps to Bachata, while connecting the dance to self -awareness of own culture identity and learn the
skills one uses when dancing.
Immigration and Identity
Jose Sanchez, Nery Guerrero, Gabriela Castillo
Council for Minority of Student Affairs (CMSA)
While national reports highlight that Latinos are the fasting growing minority group in the United States,
there is far less dialogue concerning their low college graduation rates in comparison to their high college
enrollment rates (Census, 2011); specifically pertaining to Latino males’ degree completion (Saenz &
Ponjuan, 2009). While the gender gap in higher education exists across all racial groups (Saenz & Ponjuan,
2009), a resilient trend among Latino males is often ignored when compared to their Afri can American
counterparts. Due to Latino males’ underrepresentation in higher education, there is a great need for
faculty and staff to be knowledgeable of ways to assist and support these students through mentorship
relationships (Santos & Reigadas, 2002) . During the roundtable discussion, participants will learn about
Latino males’ low graduation rates and hear from a first -generation Latino male who attends a PWI. They
will then engage in a thought-provoking conversation concerning the different ways Lat ino students can
find a mentor on campus and have input on how faculty and staff can be supportive mentors to Latino
males.
Latino Educators in the Classroom
Natalie Garcia, Johnny Solis, Miranda Perez -LaPort
K-12 Educators
College graduation rates for Hispanics have increased since 2008, according to the Pew Hispanic Center,
with an overall 48% increase from 2000 to 2010 among the Hispanic population in the US. Education for
Hispanic students and the ever-growing community is at an all-time high, however there is a major barrier
to Latino education: the lack of Latino representation among teachers and school boards. Educational
settings are seeing an increase in Latino student enrollment, primarily in the K -12 system. More than ever,
Latino educators are needed in the classroom to help Latino students self -actualize a habitus of success.
The following panel discussion will address the need for Latino educators in the classroom as well as
celebrate the experiences of the Latino teacher identity as it relate s to the success of Latino students.
Sunday, April 12th Workshop Sessions
Fish Out of Water!
Dr. Marisa Suhm
Department of Multicultural Services at Texas A&M
Discusses how our cultures and identities defines one's character, and how it affects the interaction with
people of different cultures/identities. Specially when there is a contradiction between identity and
setting, an individual may feel as if he/she is a Fish Out Water. Dr. Suhm will go in-depth on how to
reconcile in this situation without alienating one's identity nor one's setting.
The Latina, The Body, The Ambiguous
Alexandra Sousa
Texas A&M University
The Latinidad population in the United States continues to grow and although immigrants from Latin
American are incredibly diverse in background and culture, they are often inappropriately lumped into
one homogeneous group. This is often reflected in the ambiguous Lati na roles we see in American
television. Depictions of Latinas have changed very little since they first appeared on the screen, which
has been shown to influence audience's real -life perceptions of women from Latin America. Many
modern shows help perpetuate the Latina stereotype as a loud and feisty woman, donned in tight and
brightly colored clothing. However, there are also traditional and online television formats that are
working to combat these common representations and have succeeded in doing so to a certain degree.
This historical analysis seeks to understand how and to what extent popular archetypes of Latinas have
been maintained and the greater implications of the current representations we see.
Understanding my Latino self/others through Communicating
Diverse Construction of Reality
Mr. Daniel Hernandez
Hernandez Law Firm (Bryan, TX)
As humans we have a common nature that is innate to all of us. The differences between us and others
include our : history ,culture, symbols, logic, processes, identity and relationships. By understanding how
these are formed within each of us, as individuals ,we can begin to understand how we relate to others
and their identities. Not all Latinos think alike and see the world the same. However, our assumptions
often suggest we do and problems arise between others and among ourselves. My presentation will
address how we become Latinos in our identity and how we can move beyond a narrow focus to one that is
global. Being Latino depends on all the factors cited above. In the same vein becoming a globalized
thinker ,whose identity is not limited to being Latino, is based on the same factors . The difference is
whether we are willing and able to exit our Latino worldview a nd engage the broader realities where
others exist . Unless we truly understand ourselves as humans first ,we will limit our growth and
development on a personal and professional level.