The first thing I thought about when I heard the news was that mi abuelitas (my grandmothers) Maria Ygnacia Vasquez and Herminia Ovalle Vasquez would be proud hearing this news today. Adapted from Maya Angelou,

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave [and migrant workers].
I rise
I rise
I rise.

“Still I Rise” (1978).

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, it’s a sincere honor to join The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) board.

This national LatinX initiative is entering its fifteenth year and continues to address issues and concerns affecting LatinX, with a focus on higher education. While the LatinX population is the largest ethnic minority population in America, LatinX are still highly underrepresented in academic leadership, faculty and student enrollment and graduation rates. For more information visit the AAHHE website.

Perhaps one little known fact is that I was a precursor AAHHE graduate fellow waaaaaaaay back in 1998 when I was a graduate student at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor. I remember Professor Sylvia Hurtado, my undergraduate research mentor, encouraged me to apply and I attended an academic conference in Washington DC. It was my very first foray into academia.

In conclusion, we’d love to have your university and/or college join as members. Please shoot us an email if you are interested in an institutional membership, grantmaking or philanthropy for our national #LatinX initiative.

There is much more work to do, and no doubt, there will be more challenges ahead, but I am convinced that we will refuse to allow adversity to stop us from pressing forward and making an unmistakable and lasting impact.

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