Message from Latina/o Studies to class of 2026
Congratulations to the Class of 2026!
Rebeca Hey-Colón, Director
Marti Dense, Program Administrator
Zucy Ortega, Events Coordinator/Program Assistant
Simon Velasquez, LSSO Advisor/Assistant Dean
2026 Minors
Abigail Badillo Cordero
Laura Caicedo
Major, Minors: PhD in English Language and Literature. Minors in Women's and Gender Studies, Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Honors and acknowledgments: Teaching Assistant for the Latinx Studies Program for multiple semesters. Student of Professors Debra Castillo and Sofia Villenas. Instructor of many years to wonderful FWS students.
Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: Publish my dissertation as a fully formed book. Move back to Colombia. Teach at international schools and universities.
What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP minor has meant so much to me over the years that it's almost hard to articulate it. Not only did the minor allow me to find a safe place to most truly be myself at Cornell, it also gave me the opportunity to meet countless faculty and students who have shaped who I am as a scholar and as a teacher. My gratitude to the many people who make LSP what it is - a home.
What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? The people.
Nylicia Campos
America Casanova
Areli Vianey Esparza
Lyrianne Gonzalez
Jossanny Mariel Goris
Katherine Irwin
Major, Minors: Government and American Studies. Minors in Latino Studies, Inequality Studies, and Law & Society.
Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans:
What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience?
Elizabeth Lara Rivera
Henry Martinez-Flores
Rafael Montan
Darwin Joel Mordan
Major, Minors: Electrical & Computer Engineering. Minors in Latina/o Studies and Mathematics.
Honors and acknowledgments: I've been on the Executive Board for Quisqueya (The Dominican Students Association) for all four years at Cornell in different roles: starting out as Freshman Representative and then Programming Chair, leading up to becoming Co-President my Junior year before being the Treasurer my Senior year. Additionally, I have served as the Chapter President for the Chi Chapter of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc.
Short and Long Term Post-graduation/Career plans: I am planning on going to an education fellowship to get my Master's in Education and/or Certification in Teaching. With that, I hope to become a High School Mathematics teacher.
What has the LSP minor meant to you? The LSP minor has meant a lot for me, and has helped keep my class schedules more engaging and fun. I'm someone who tends to prefer STEM classes and didn't find as much enjoyment in history or reading-based courses. This changed with the LSP courses: each one I've taken has been exciting, engaging, and fun, while also being highly educational. I loved the amazing discussions that happen in all my classes, and every professor I've learned from has an incredible amount of knowledge that they're able to share with students.
What do you expect to remember best from your Cornell experience? I expect to remember a lot of the fun times I had with my friends and members of Cornell's Latino community. From Fridays with Faculty/Alumni and hanging out in the LSP lounge to attending events across Greek and Latino organizations, those memories will definitely help me look back on my time at Cornell fondly.