The Latina/o Studies Program and Latina/o/x Student Success Office congratulates Jessica Estrada and Gerardo Carrillo on becoming the new Lead Facilitators for Mi Comunidad Mentorship Program!
A little about the Lead Facilitators:
Jessica Guadalupe Estrada is a second year M.A. student in Apparel Design. She is a first generation Mexican-American from Houston, Texas, and received her Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising, Spanish, and a minor in General Business from Sam Houston State University. During her time as an undergrad, Jessica was involved in many notable organizations including the Ronald E. McNair Scholar Program, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, and the Texas FCCLA Alumni Mentorship Program. She joined the LGSC team last year as a mentor, and has gained valuable knowledge, support, and many new friendships.
Gerardo Veliz Carrillo is a first-generation college student of Mexican and Guatemalan decent. Originally from Sacramento, California, Gerardo attended the University of Berkeley where he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering. His main involvement was the Hispanic Engineers and Scientists, a group dedicated to fostering a safe space for Latinxs in STEM. After graduation, Gerardo participated in a post-bachelors program in Los, Alamos New Mexico to study Fluid Mechanics in a national lab before coming to Cornell as a doctoral candidate with the Environmental Fluid Mechanics and Hydrology group in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Founded in 2015 by graduate and professional students in the Latin@ Graduate Student Coalition (LGSC), Mi Comunidad’s mission is to address the needs of underrepresented undergraduate students at Cornell and build a community among all students, faculty, staff, and community members. Mi Comunidad is supported by the Latina/o Studies Program (LSP) and the Latina/o/x Student Success Office (LSSO) at Cornell University.
The mentorship program strives to encourage academic and community engagement, ease students’ transition into higher education, and provide guidance for undergrads about applying to graduate school, navigating academia, and work-life balance. Mentors and mentees have the opportunity to build relationships through monthly meetings and one-on-one time.
Once again, LSP/LSSO congratulates Jessica and Gerardo on their new position!
For more information about how to get involved with Mi Comunidad, please contact Jessica (jge39@cornell.edu), Gerardo (gv97@cornell.edu), or Eileen Morocho ’19, Student Intern (em583@cornell.edu). You can also contact them directly at cornellcomunidad@gmail.com.
