Letter From the Director: Spring 2019

 

Spring 2019

Dear US Latino/a/x Studies and ISU Intersecting Communities,

I am delighted to welcome 2019 with lots of exciting news for the US Latino/a Studies Program at Iowa State University. First, I want to thank all of our faculty, staff, and students for the continued support and enthusiasm that is making this program a dynamic place of community,  study, and discovery.

This Spring, USLS has teamed up with Extension and Outreach, founding a new USLS Rising Stars Internship Pilot Program. The three students awarded this honor are Kacey Berry, David Vega, and Anlis Mercado-Rios. They will be completing an internship class in the spring and continuing with an on-site internship in Iowa. Stay tuned for a special feature on them on our web page in May.

The program is busy preparing for the US Latino/a Studies 25 Year Anniversary Symposium to be held at the Memorial Union on September 28, 2019. This will be an exciting day at the Memorial Union of lightning talks, round-table presentations, a key note speaker, and a special exhibit at the Multicultural Center. Latinx voices, leadership, and innovation on campus, in the community, and throughout the Midwest will be featured. We have received a CEAH Symposium Grant to bring our key note Speaker and Mid-West Latino/a/x Studies Directors for promising conversation about stereotypes, the history and importance of Latino/a Studies Programming.  We are still fundraising; so you might be hearing from me personally.

Our new classes such as Spanish for Heritage Speakers and 325x offer our students new learning opportunities that merge cross disciplinary studies for the highest impact learning experiences.

Be sure to contact our fabulous USLS Ambassadors, Kimberly Thomas and Joseph Medina for class visits, Intro to US Latino/a Studies tutoring, and more!

Professor Jimmy Patiño will be joining us from the University of Minnesota to speak about his new book, Raza Sí, Migra No at the Memorial Union on February 11, 2019.

Please be sure to visit our web site regularly for updates on classes, events, featured students and faculty.

I feel so honored to be part of this program and invite you to contact me for more information. I look forward to welcoming old and new faces to the US Latino/a Studies Program.

Warmly,

Dr. Lucía M. Suárez