Celebrating our 2024 Minors

Hugo Amador

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Biology & English. Minors in Latina/o Studies and Comparative Literature.

Honors and Acknowledgments: Cornell Commitment Fellow, Cornell Biological Sciences Scholar.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: I'll be applying to law school in the fall. 

What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP minor allowed me to explore what it means to be Latino in the modern age, through many mediums: from political perspectives, legal frameworks, and literary studies. It explicated the Latino experience beyond the individual and towards something larger and momentous.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? All the brilliant and inspiring faculty within the English/Comparative Literature/LSP departments that shaped me into the person I am today. And my peers—I wouldn't have made it without them. 

Miguel Barrera

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Plant Sciences.  Minor in Latino/a Studies

Honors and Acknowledgments: Rawlings Presidential Research Scholar and a Humanities Scholar.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: Planning on pursuing graduate studies 

What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP minor has been a chance for me to branch outside of my community in CALS and pursue a wide range of subjects, all united by their connection to the Latino identity. 

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience?  I will remember the time spent with the friends I have made and all the antics we got into over the course of these short four years.

Ana Gabriela Carmona-Pereda

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Performing and Media Arts. Minor in Latina/o Studies.

Honors and Acknowledgments: The Arthur O. Eve Higher Education Opportunity Program Scholar

What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP Minor has granted me the opportunity to learn about both my own heritage and those spanning Latin America. Through this program, I've encountered artists, writers, and creatives who explore the Latinx diaspora and its intersectionality within the United States, a crucial component in my personal journey of self-discovery in my artistry of theatre and photography. Understanding the perspectives of these writers on topics such as climate change, intergenerational trauma, migration, policies, and more has enriched my understanding of my Mexican-Indigenous-American identity, fostering a deep connection to this field of study. Finally, I have had the opportunity to delve into material beyond the LSP minor that has informed my other areas of interest.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? I expect to remember the amazing communal space I was a part of such as being a part of HEOP, Collective X, and the First-Generation Student Union. I believe being in these spaces allowed me to both experience genuine connection and support within the BIPOC FGLI community. Throughout my time at Cornell, there was consistently a sense of support, acknowledgment, and celebration that fostered a feeling of safety and confidence in my capabilities. I will recall these community spaces, which served as reminders of my inner strength, courage, and abilities, often recognizing them before I fully did.

Michelle Cobos

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Government. Minor in Latina/o Studies.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: Apply and get accepted into law school to become a lawyer.

What has the LSP minor meant to you? LSP is a community where I saw people like me I did not know we had in Cornell. It is a community of people with similar backgrounds and struggles making my time at Cornell a memorable one.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? All the memories I made good or bad and how I preserve and become the woman I am today. 

Isabella Crame

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Psychology. Minor in Latina/o Studies.

Jessica Dominguez

Major, Minors, and Concentrations:  Sociology. Minor in Latino/a Studies.

Honors and Acknowledgments: Dean's List for seven semesters.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: I am studying for the LSAT and preparing my law school applications. 

What has the LSP minor meant to you? LSP has helped me connect with the Latino community on campus and has given me new perspectives on current issues relevant to all of us. 

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? I will look back at the great professors that were unafraid to speak their mind. 

Amy Escalante

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Applied Economics and Management. Concentrations in International Trade and Development. Minors in Latina/o Studies, Spanish, and Latin American Caribbean Studies.

Honors and Acknowledgments: JG White Excellence in Spanish and the James A. Perkins Prize for Interracial & Intercultural Peace & Harmony.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: Post graduation, I will be joining the Boston Consulting Group as an Associate.

What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP minor has brought me closer to my culture and taught me about what it means to be a Latina in the US. 

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? All the amazing classes I took and friends! 

Sylver Garcia

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: American Studies. Concentration in Race and Law. Minor in Latina/o Studies.

Honors and Acknowledgments: Honors Thesis Student. Co-Founder of Mexican Students Association and Cornell University Diversity Ambassadors. Alpha Phi Alpha Sweetheart 2022 and Zeta Phi Beta Young Adult Leader 2024.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: To take a gap year to job-shadow a circuit court judge, and later to attend law school.

What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP minor meant a lot. As someone who identifies as Afro-Latina (Black and Mexican), I learned and created a deeper appreciation to my culture and history. I learned how truly rich and diverse the Latine community is, and I embraced the beauty of it. From the classes I took throughout my four years, the LSP minor expanded my academic horizons and offered me different perspectives, which can be used in my legal career. In addition to my legal career, LSP provided me an understanding of the political, cultural, and economic issues plaguing Latine communities. These concerns motivate me to provide marginalized communities with equitable access to resources.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? I will remember cheering for the homecoming games and seeing everyone dressed in red and white. It was a special moment to see everyone together supporting the Big Red.

Brayan Garcia Soriano

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Biology & Society. Minor in Latino Studies.

Honors and Acknowledgments: Premio Lo Nuestro Orgullo Latine Sophomore Award, Premio Lo Nuestro Orgullo Latine Junior Award, Quill & Dagger member, Der Hexenkreis Member, President of the Almighty Alpha Chapter of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity Inc., Co-Founder and Co-President of the Mexican Students Association, Co-President of the Sabor Latino Dance Ensemble.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: Short term I hope to work in healthcare administration/public health in NYC and later go back to grad school to study the intersection of Latinos and Healthcare. Long Term I hope to be running public health programs to help give back to the Latine community in the U.S.

What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP minor was definitely like a second home to me, I remember semesters where I wasn't able to fit a LSP class would always make me really sad, but I was happy to be able to explore more about my own identity through these different courses I took here at Cornell.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience?  I expect to remember to the people and family I made here. I have never met people with such passion for what they study and such kind hearts, It was truly a blessing to get to know everyone here at Cornell. 

Carolina Herrera

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Information Sciences.  Concentrations in Behavioral Science, Data Science, and User Experience
Minor in Latina/o Studies.

Honors and Acknowledgments: Dean's List (Spring 2021 - Fall 2023)

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: I plan to attend graduate school and get a master's degree in Human-Computer Interaction.

What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP minor has helped me stay connected to my roots and appreciate my identity as a Mexican American while being away from home.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? I hope to remember all the friends and incredible people I met at Cornell!

 Isabel Hui

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Government. Minors in Latina/o Studies and Law & Society.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: I plan to attend law school after graduation, focusing on the intersection of public policy and the law. 

What has the LSP minor meant to you? Pursuing the LSP minor has meant the world to me. Taking classes that critically engage with the Latinx experience has allowed me to form a deeper connection to my self-identity within a truly supportive community. 

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? The connections I've made with peers, faculty, and mentors will be what I remember the most from my time at Cornell. Every person I have met here has taught me something valuable, and I will forever be grateful for the diversity of thought that I was able to learn from and engage with. 

Brianna Mejia-Garzaro

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Government. Minor in Latina/o Studies.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: I hope to work with non-profit organizations that help undocumented individuals in my community back home, particularly with empowerment, legal rights, and activism.

What has the LSP minor meant to you? I have learned so much about the history of activism and oppression facing Latinos, particularly in the United States, and how important it is to speak up for those that need it, but not to take up space from others that want it.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? I expect to remember best all the people I've met, and the knowledge that I can and will continue to learn. 

Olivia Ochoa

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Spanish and American Studies.  Minor in Latina/o Studies.

Honors and Acknowledgments: Posse Foundation Scholar, Co-President of the Cornell Translator Interpreter Program, 3x Recipient of the Summer Experience Grant, Latino Studies Program Intern.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: I'm hoping to work with language access in the immigration field. Hopefully, I'll be traveling to Spain with a teaching assistantship to get first-hand experience in the acquisition of a new language, and to engage with migrant and refugee communities in a context outside of the United States. Staying siloed in the US perspective is dangerous, and I hope to bring that expertise to wherever I end up fighting for language access one day!

What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP minor, and the program, have been some of the defining experiences in my time at Cornell. It has kept me grounded in more ways than one, rooted in my identity as a Mexican American and daughter of immigrants, and the interdisciplinary courses I've had the privilege to take have given me invaluable frameworks to use in the rest of my academic and professional paths. Getting to take classes with professors like María Cristina García starting my freshman fall opened my eyes to all that Latino Studies encompasses, and the privileges & incredible knowledge the LSP minor grants me!

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? I think the privilege, honor, and burden of being a student leader will definitely stick with me! I hope to keep the joy of the connections and friendships that I made, and I'm so excited to see what they'll turn into as I leave Ithaca. 

Axaraly Ortiz

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: History. Minors in Latina/o Studies and American Studies.

Honors and Acknowledgments: DeKiewet Prize, Catto-LeCount Fellowship, Mellon-Mays Fellowship, Judith Chuckrow Goetzl Memorial Scholarship in History, Professor Charles A. Peterson Scholarship, Humanities Scholars Program, and Co-Chair of MEChA, Latina mentor.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: My short-term plan is to take some time off to rest and reflect on my future options. My passion for activism, community engagement, and decolonization will continue to guide me in my future endeavors. Looking ahead, I envision myself living in Mexico with my loved ones, basking in the sun's warmth, and being part of a compassionate, mutually supportive community founded on principles of decolonization. My long-term goal is to help build a world where everyone can live with dignity and equality, and I remain committed to working towards that future every day.

What has the LSP minor meant to you? The Latino Studies Program is significant to me as it has enabled me to explore and deepen my knowledge of Latino history, culture, and social issues. Through courses like HIST 1802, I have delved into diverse narratives and perspectives that have shaped the Latino experience in the US. This program has enriched my academic journey, fostered a sense of belonging, and empowered me to advocate for social justice. Cornell's Latino Studies has played a pivotal role in shaping my identity and values, inspiring me to work towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? A cherished memory from my time at Cornell University is a peaceful afternoon spent at the arboretum with a friend. We wandered through the tranquil paths, watched birds and marveled at the diversity of eco-life. Suddenly, we saw a rainbow stretching across the horizon and embarked on a whimsical quest to chase its elusive end, filling our hearts with joy and laughter. This memory reminds me of the profound bonds forged through shared experiences and the enduring beauty of friendship.

Sofia Postigo

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Biology & Society. Concentrations (if any):   Health Systems. Minors in Latina/o Studies, Art History & Gerontology

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: After graduation, I will be returning home to the Bay Area and work at Genentech in their clinical operations early drug development department.

What has the LSP minor meant to you?  It has given me the ability to learn more about my culture, my identity, and given me a sense of home at Cornell. As a Biology & Society major, I was surrounded by intellectually stimulating science classes, but I felt a part of me that was being neglected. My LSP minor let me explore that part of myself and I learned about my Latino roots through literature, history, and art classes. I was also able to integrate myself into a welcoming community where I was able to relate to many of my peers.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? The Latino Living Center is at the center of my Cornell experience as it brought me my closest friends and fondest memories. 

Ariana Taboada

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Animal Science.  Concentration in Integrative Physiology and Nutrition.  Minor in Latino/a Studies.

Honors and Acknowledgments: Dean’s List, Ronald E. McNair Post Baccalaureate Achievement Program, Pre-Professional Scholars Program, Kessler Presidential Scholars Program, Recipient of the Ann S. and Robert S. Morley Student Research Award.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: Attend graduate school and obtain a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences.

What has the LSP minor meant to you? It has been a home away from home. The community, students, and faculty have supported my academic journey and personal growth at Cornell. I have never learned so much about Latinx history in the U.S., the artists and performers of the community, and those who came before me that have allowed me, an indigenous Peruana born in the U.S., to pursue my dreams. Aside from my STEM studies, it also allowed me to explore the humanities through a Latinx lens and why we mustn't let our stories fade out.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? The people, honestly. Some of my favorite and most supportive members have been faculty and upperclassmen outside of my STEM studies. I'll remember the support the Office of Academic Diversity Initiative has given me, the POC scholars I have met on this campus and the lessons I have learned that have made me who I am today.

Kayla Torres

Major, Minors, and Concentrations: Industrial and Labor Relations. Minors in Latina/o Studies, Law & Society, and Business.

Honors and Acknowledgments: Honors thesis research project: The High Workforce Participation of Cuban Women: Socioeconomic Mobility to Mother-Worker Paradox, Devadoss Law Firm Civil Rights Essay Scholarship, Don Forsyth Community Service Award – Kiwanis International, Dean's List qualification, served as Treasurer, Vice President, and now as President of the Cornell Latinx Association of Pre-Laws.

Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: I'll be attending NYU School of Law in the fall on a Dean's Award scholarship.

What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP minor has been a transformative journey for me. It has been a nurturing environment where I have not only flourished academically but also found solace and familiarity in the guidance of mentors who feel like family. Through LSP, I have found a community of like-minded peers who often share my background and passions. It has been a space where I have delved into the study of my culture, exploring its influence on my life and academic pursuits. My LSP minor has even played a pivotal role in shaping my honors thesis, titled "The High Workforce Participation of Cuban Women: Socioeconomic Mobility to Mother-Worker Paradox," a project I am honored to work on with Professor Maria Cristina Garcia as my second reader. Ultimately, LSP has been about embracing my culture, enriching my understanding of history, and forging meaningful connections with fellow Latinx students.

What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? Reflecting on my Cornell experience, it is the people who have left an indelible mark on me. From the friendships that have blossomed into lifelong bonds to the mentors who have guided and inspired me, each encounter has been transformative. Whether it is the camaraderie shared in CLAP (Cornell Latinx Association of Pre-Laws) or the collective encouragement of the Cornell community, every interaction has contributed to my growth. Together, we have celebrated successes, supported one another through challenges, and built connections that I know will endure far beyond graduation. My time at Cornell has been defined by the relationships forged and their profound impact on shaping who I am today.