Vice President for Inclusive Excellence Randy Williams received the 2026 Rising Star Award from the during the association鈥檚 annual conference held this year in Philadelphia.

The Rising Star Award is presented to a NADOHE member in good standing who has served as a chief or senior diversity officer for at least three years, but no more than 10 total years at a higher educational institution.

Nominees are considered for their 鈥渆xceptional contributions to research, administration, practice, advocacy and/or policy informs and advances the understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence in higher education.鈥�

鈥淩eceiving the Rising Star Award at this point in my career reminds me that I am, and always will be, a lifelong learner, continually striving to grow and improve,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚 am also grateful to NADOHE for its support of the many professionals dedicated to creating high-quality learning environments for all students, faculty, and staff.

鈥淏ecause awards are rarely earned alone, I share this recognition with my 乱伦视频 colleagues, who prioritize inclusive excellence every day.鈥�

Since his promotion to his current role in July 2020, Williams has led wide-ranging efforts to advance inclusive excellence at 乱伦视频, driving measurable gains in faculty and staff diversity, student belonging and institutional accountability.

He has helped embed equity-focused practices across the university through initiatives such as a Shared Equity Leadership national research project and through guided reforms to faculty development and student services that have addressed structural barriers.

Colleagues credit Williams with fostering a collaborative, campuswide approach that positions inclusive excellence as a shared responsibility with leadership that contributed to national research partnerships and programs now serving as models for other institutions.

Beyond campus, Williams has strengthened community partnerships and helped shape institutional responses to social issues, extending the university鈥檚 impact regionally and nationally.

Lak茅 Laosebikan-Buggs, 乱伦视频鈥檚 director of inclusive excellence for graduate and professional education, nominated Williams for the award.

鈥淲hat distinguishes Dr. Williams is not just his expertise but his bold, forward-thinking leadership,鈥� she wrote in her nomination. 鈥淗is ability to navigate institutional complexity, including the shifting winds of public opinion, while inspiring broad engagement, and implementing systems-level change, positions him as a future national leader in higher education equity and inclusion work.鈥�

The little-known history of Greensboro, North Carolina鈥檚 1938 movie theater boycott protesting Jim Crow censorship was the topic of a March 6 public talk by Assistant Professor of Journalism Lorraine Ahearn at the city鈥檚

The event at the museum, site of the pivotal Woolworth sit-in protests of 1960, also featured a presentation on North Carolina鈥檚 first commercially produced movie, 1948鈥檚 “Pitch a Boogie Woogie.” Veteran Associated Press reporter Skip Foreman talked about the once-lost featurette and the role his father, Tom Foreman, Sr., played in the all-Black cast.

鈥淭hese two events expand our understanding of film history and the long journey of screen representation of African Americans,鈥� Ahearn said. 鈥淭hey reveal Black people in North Carolina both resisting and negotiating Jim Crow conventions during two decades not often emphasized in this struggle.鈥�

In 1938, students at Greensboro鈥檚 Bennett College for Women, an HBCU, organized a community boycott of white movie theaters. The students discovered that white exhibitors in the South were censoring out scenes casting Black performers on an equal social footing with whites, violating Jim Crow-era typecasting that relegated Black actors to subservient or comic stereotypes. The Black press was instrumental in covering the months-long boycott.

Ahearn first wrote about the forgotten incident as a newspaper reporter, then extended the research as a chapter in a scholarly anthology edited by Naeemah Clark, 乱伦视频鈥檚 Associate Provost for Academic Inclusive Excellence.

鈥淭he 鈥�38 boycott is noteworthy on a couple of counts,鈥� Ahearn said. 鈥淔or one, it comes a whole generation before Woolworth鈥檚, lengthening the timeline of direct action initiated 鈥� once again 鈥� by college students. Equally important, the movie boycott turned not on the issue of where Black people were physically allowed to sit or eat, but on how Black people were allowed to be depicted to white audiences in the most powerful new medium of the time, Hollywood movies.鈥�

A decade later, 鈥淧itch a Boogie Woogie,鈥� captured the disappearing genre of tented Black vaudeville and traveling minstrel shows in a complex post-war era of social and musical evolution. Black actors, musicians and dancers played all the parts in the short movie a white Greenville producer made exclusively for Black audiences and scored by the popular Greensboro band The Rhythm Vets. The band members were veterans of the World War II-era US Navy B-1 Band, among the first African Americans to hold Navy ranks above that of mess officer.

The School of Communications community gathered March 5 in Snow Family Grand Atrium for the third annual Spotlight on Inclusive Excellence, an interactive event highlighting projects and initiatives advancing inclusive storytelling and media practice.

The program featured table conversations where attendees moved throughout the space to engage with students, faculty and staff about ongoing initiatives and projects.

Take a closer look at our Spotlight on Inclusive Excellence with our .

Assistant Dean Vanessa Bravo opened the event by emphasizing that inclusive excellence remains a core priority within the School of Communications and across 乱伦视频.

鈥淚nclusive excellence is deeply important to us,鈥� Bravo said. 鈥淭hese values have always mattered and will continue to matter.鈥�

Throughout the program, attendees explored a range of subjects, including work by student organizations, projects from Live Oak Communications 鈥� the school鈥檚 student-run communications agency 鈥� student journalism and research efforts, faculty scholarship and coursework connected to the university鈥檚 Advancing Equity Requirement.

Other discussions focused on topics such as women in sports, student research featured in academic journals, and projects examining how communications and media can amplify diverse voices and perspectives.

Bravo said the event helped the school community better understand the breadth of inclusive excellence initiatives taking place across the School of Communications.

鈥淭his is a great opportunity to learn about the many diversity-, equity- and inclusion-related efforts happening throughout the School of Communications,鈥� she said. 鈥淔rom student organizations and faculty research to journalism projects and alumni work, these efforts demonstrate how our community is engaging these issues in meaningful ways.鈥�

鈥淭he discussions highlighted how quickly the communications landscape is evolving 鈥� and why questions of equity and representation remain central to that change,鈥� said Lorraine Ahearn, assistant professor of journalism and chair of the Inclusive Excellence Committee. 鈥淥ur students, faculty and alumni are actively examining how media systems shape who is represented and whose voices are heard.鈥�

Bravo thanked the faculty members who organized the event through the school鈥檚 Inclusive Excellence Committee, including Ahearn, Young Do Kim, Sydney Nicolla, and Lee Bush, as well as the students, faculty and staff who hosted conversations during the program.

Drawing from her own experience and the voices of other neurodiverse students, Schlehuber authored a deeply reported, multimedia feature that explores where students thrive, where they need more support, and how campuses can better serve them. As she put it, 鈥淏eing diagnosed autistic myself, I really just wanted to write the story I鈥檝e always wanted to read.鈥�

That story has now earned national recognition for a second time. The recent 乱伦视频 graduate, who majored in journalism and minored in creative writing, captured second place in the Feature Writing Competition of the 2025鈥�2026 Hearst Journalism Awards Program, selected from a record 162 entries from 87 schools. Her runner-up finish includes a $2,000 award and places her among the top student feature writers in the country.

Schlehuber鈥檚 piece stood out for its depth, empathy and multimedia approach, combining reporting, photography, video and design to tell a layered story about autistic and neurodiverse students at 乱伦视频.

鈥淚 always wanted to tackle an in-depth, multimedia piece about how autistic people navigate college life,鈥� Schlehuber said. 鈥淎utism is a disability frequently associated with childhood, but I wanted to show how dynamic autism can be, especially in young adulthood.鈥�

Her reporting centers on students who shared their experiences honestly 鈥� from finding community and confidence to navigating accommodations, social spaces and academic expectations. The story is also supported by insights from disability experts and includes ideas for how universities can better support autistic students.

Schlehuber鈥檚 work on the project grew out of both personal and academic interests. She first explored the topic through a research article published in the 乱伦视频 Journal before developing the full multimedia feature. That early work shaped not just what she reported, but how she approached the story. Schlehuber said it was important for the final piece to reflect how varied the autistic experience can be.

鈥淭he biggest challenge I faced while writing and reporting was working toward interviewing a diverse range of people,鈥� Schlehuber said. 鈥淢y three student subjects not only had autism, but they had other disabilities and chronic illnesses as well, so I wanted to make sure that was represented in my article.鈥�

Finding expert voices also took persistence, as there are relatively few specialists focused specifically on autism in higher education, which limited the pool of available sources.

While autism has been part of her life since childhood, Schlehuber said the reporting process still revealed new layers of complexity. 鈥淪ince I grew up with autism, I didn’t learn anything new about the disability itself that surprised me,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it was surprising that autism is often coupled with other disabilities and mental illnesses.鈥�

She added that this reality makes accommodations more complicated 鈥� and more important.

Above all, Schlehuber said she wants her story to shift how people think about neurodiversity in higher education. She wants readers to understand that autism accommodations should not stop after K鈥�12 education and that colleges must not only accommodate neurodiverse students, but represent them in daily campus life. 鈥淢ore students are neurodiverse than you think,鈥� she said.

Additionally, she wanted to push back on the assumption that college is always harder for autistic students.

鈥淔or a lot of autistic students, college is not always as hard on us as people think it is,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he students I spoke with had supportive 鈥� often neurodiverse 鈥� friend groups and enjoyed the flexibility and niche opportunities that come with college.鈥�

In addition to the Hearst second-place finish, 鈥淭he Autistic Experience at 乱伦视频鈥� won third place in the Multimedia Feature Story category from the Associated Collegiate Press in October. For Schlehuber, the continued recognition is both surprising and deeply meaningful.

鈥淲inning second place was shocking,鈥� she said of her Hearst recognition. 鈥淓very time I win an award for my journalism, I am blown away with how much people care about what I have to say.鈥�

She is especially excited that her reporting on autism is reaching a wider audience.

鈥淚 am so excited for my reporting on autism to get eyes on it, especially through a massive media company like Hearst,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 hope this will open more doors for me in my career, as I plan to write for the rest of my life in any way I can.鈥�

The Hearst Journalism Awards Program, now in its 66th year, includes competitions across writing, photo, audio, television, podcast and multimedia categories, offering up to $700,000 in scholarships, matching grants and stipends. More than 100 accredited journalism programs participate each year, making it one of the most prestigious student journalism competitions in the country.

had never slept on a boat before. By the time she woke up in the middle of the Pacific Ocean 鈥撀爏ix hours off the coast of Costa Rica 鈥撀爏he had already spent the night battling seasickness, clutching her camera, and worrying whether she鈥檇 get the images she hoped for. Five minutes after stepping onto the deck at sunrise, a hammerhead shark surfaced beside the boat, confirming months of preparation and giving Molina firsthand access to an endangered species few reporters document alive.

The encounter came during Molina鈥檚 three-week reporting trip last summer to Costa Rica as a 2025 Pulitzer Center Reporting Fellow, where the journalism and media analytics double major investigated illegal hammerhead shark fishing and the legal loopholes allowing the endangered species to be caught and sold. For Molina, whose parents immigrated from Costa Rica, the fellowship offered a rare opportunity to report in her family鈥檚 home country 鈥撀爌lacing her not only in government offices and fishing towns, but also aboard a research vessel in international waters alongside marine biologists tagging hammerhead sharks.

鈥淚 was really worried about visuals,鈥� Molina said of her investigation. 鈥淚 was like, 鈥楬ow am I going to get a visual of a hammerhead shark? They鈥檙e all the way out in the ocean.鈥欌��

That anxiety followed her offshore. Molina was the only journalist on board, far from land, without cell service and with no easy way out if something went wrong. The physical toll hit quickly.

鈥淚 was severely seasick the first night,鈥� Molina said. 鈥淟ike, I鈥檝e never been that pale in my life.鈥�

Despite the discomfort, Molina never questioned why she was there, staying alert with her camera at the ready.

Those hours at sea were just one chapter in a much longer reporting journey 鈥撀爋ne that began with a phone call to family. The project took shape after a conversation with Molina鈥檚 aunt, Sophia Gamboa, who lives in Costa Rica and raised concerns about illegal hammerhead shark fishing that she felt was largely overlooked.

Nearly two years after that conversation, Molina’s reporting culminated in a Pulitzer Center鈥損ublished investigation titled 鈥溾�� an in-depth examination of how enforcement gaps continue to threaten the endangered species. Molina said her connection to the country shaped both the focus and the urgency of the work.

鈥淏eing Costa Rican is a central part of my identity,鈥� Molina said. 鈥淚鈥檝e returned regularly since I was very young to visit family, and I now hold dual citizenship.鈥�

Throughout her three-week trip, Molina relied heavily on her aunt, who served as a translator during interviews with fishermen and local officials, and helped coordinate travel between coastal communities. That support allowed Molina to focus on reporting while gaining access she would not have been able to secure alone.

Molina鈥檚 reporting took her from government offices in San Jos茅 to small fishing towns along the Pacific coast, before culminating far offshore with a team led by marine biologist Randall Arauz. 鈥淚 was on my own reporting for about a week,鈥� Molina said. 鈥淎nd then I was invited by Randall, whom I interviewed back in December (2024), to come out on the boat with him.鈥�

The plan was to tag thresher sharks. Hammerheads were never guaranteed. When a hammerhead finally appeared one morning, the tagging process unfolded quickly.

鈥淭hey make an incision right near the fin,鈥� Molina explained. 鈥淭hey put in the tag 鈥� and then it goes with the shark, and it will eventually come off and send all that data back.鈥�

As the scientists worked, Molina remained on deck with the fishermen, documenting the moment. 鈥淭hey were like, 鈥榊ou have to come here. This is a good angle for a photo,鈥欌�� she said of the crew. 鈥淭hey were really nice people.鈥�

By the end of the trip, the team had tagged three hammerhead sharks.

For Molina, seeing the sharks alive and released underscored the stakes of her reporting. Hammerhead sharks are elusive and endangered, and encounters outside of fishing contexts are rare. The experience offshore made tangible what had previously existed only in interviews, documents and preparation.

鈥淚鈥檝e gone through a lot for this story,鈥� Molina said.

The experience also reshaped how Molina understood the investigation itself. What began as a project focused largely on enforcement failures evolved into something more complex once she began interviewing government officials, scientists and fishing advocates.

鈥淚 truly don鈥檛 think that they鈥檙e bad people and don鈥檛 care about hammerhead sharks,鈥� Molina said of the regulators she interviewed. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 more like there are three people monitoring over 2,000 boats.鈥�

That realization shifted the reporting away from individual blame and toward systemic limitations, including understaffing, resource constraints and the challenges of monitoring Costa Rica鈥檚 extensive coastline. For Molina, that nuance became central to the final piece.

In the final days of the trip, Molina shifted from reporting to writing. 鈥淚 actually wrote the entire article before I even left Costa Rica,鈥� she said. She worked from her grandmother鈥檚 house 鈥� a familiar place she had visited since childhood 鈥� drafting the investigation at the coffee table. After the intensity of the fieldwork, Molina finished her story as rain fell outside, dampening the orchids lining her grandmother’s backyard.

About Pulitzer Center鈥檚 Campus Consortium

乱伦视频 is a partner in the Pulitzer Center鈥檚 Campus Consortium, a network of colleges and universities that support the center鈥檚 mission to promote journalism on critical global issues. Along with travel funding, the fellowship provides mentorship, journalism resources, and the opportunity to present work at an annual fall conference in Washington, D.C. Student projects are published in major media outlets nationally and internationally, as well as on the .

In fact, Molina鈥檚 main report was published by Latina Republic, a U.S.-based nonprofit media and research organization focused on bridging understanding between the U.S. and Latin America.

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Bravo鈥檚 chapter, 鈥淲hen migrants oppose other migrant-sending countries鈥� policies: Fighting countries who are supposed to be your friends,鈥� explores how migrants traveling through traditionally migrant-sending nations can become sources of political tension and public dissent. The research focuses on in-transit migrants 鈥� particularly those from Central and South America 鈥� who encounter restrictive policies as they travel through countries such as Mexico en route to the United States.

Building on this analysis, the chapter examines how these migrants sometimes push back against policies imposed by countries that have historically positioned themselves as defenders of migrant rights. In recent years, for example, Mexico has collaborated with the United States to try to lower the number of Central American and South American migrants who arrive at the US鈥揗exico border seeking political asylum. This shift has created diplomatic and reputational challenges for a nation long associated with advocating for migrants鈥� human rights.

Bravo鈥檚 work highlights how non-state actors 鈥� including migrants, activists and diaspora communities 鈥� can challenge official state narratives through protest, advocacy and digital activism. These efforts, the professor explains, can reshape how nations are perceived globally and complicate traditional approaches to public diplomacy.

Published by Palgrave Macmillan, the book was edited by Anna Popkova, associate professor at Western Michigan University. 鈥淒isruption and Dissent in Public Diplomacy鈥� includes 12 chapters examining how dissent, activism and communication shape international reputation and foreign policy.

In addition to this work, Bravo served this fall as a contributing author to the Worlds of Journalism Study 3 (WJS3): 2021鈥�2025, a landmark global project analyzing the state of journalism across 75 countries. She co-authored two chapters in the publication 鈥� one exploring journalists鈥� employment conditions worldwide and another offering an in-depth country report on Costa Rica.

Bravo co-authored two chapters in the newly released publication 鈥� one exploring journalists鈥� employment conditions worldwide and another offering an in-depth country report on Costa Rica. Her work adds to a growing body of international research documenting the shifting realities of journalism, from precarious employment to changing professional norms.

The employment conditions chapter synthesizes data from all participating countries, highlighting trends such as the deterioration of working environments and the rise of precarity among journalists. Bravo鈥檚 Costa Rica report, co-authored with colleagues from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Arizona, was supported by the Costa Rican nonprofit organization Punto y Aparte. Led by journalist Yanancy Noguera, former editor-in-chief of La Naci贸n and current president of Costa Rica鈥檚 Colegio de Periodistas, Punto y Aparte played a key role in local data collection.

More than 250 journalists in Costa Rica were surveyed, and about 30 also participated in in-depth interviews, offering their perspectives on how media professionals are adapting amid economic and political pressures. Preliminary findings from this research were presented this summer at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) annual conference in San Francisco, where the project received the International Communication Division鈥檚 Top-2 Paper Award for research focused on Latin America.

Now in its third iteration, the Worlds of Journalism Study is the most comprehensive examination to date of the profession鈥檚 global landscape. More than 90 researchers collaborated on the project, which investigates topics such as safety and work-related risks, editorial autonomy, media freedom, and perceptions of journalists鈥� roles. The full WJS3 report is available on the .

Earlier this month, Bravo served as a keynote speaker at the annual congress of the Mexican Association of International Studies (Asociaci贸n Mexicana de Estudios Internacionales), where she delivered a 75-minute lecture exploring the evolving challenges facing public diplomacy professionals.

Vanessa Bravo, professor of strategic communications and assistant dean in the School of Communications, served as a keynote speaker at the annual congress of the Mexican Association of International Studies (Asociaci贸n Mexicana de Estudios Internacionales, AMEI) on Oct. 17.

Invited by AMEI鈥檚 Division of International Communication and Public & Cultural Diplomacy, Bravo delivered a 75-minute lecture exploring the evolving challenges facing public diplomacy professionals. She reflected on how these practitioners 鈥撀爐asked with building positive relationships with international publics 鈥撀爉ust navigate a global environment where political leaders in the United States and abroad often shift policies abruptly on issues such as trade, immigration, international education, and diplomacy itself.

Held in the Auditorio Juan Pablo II at An谩huac University (Universidad An谩huac) in Quintana Roo, Mexico, Bravo鈥檚 keynote drew scholars, government officials, and students eager to engage in dialogue about diplomacy and communication in uncertain times.

AMEI鈥檚 annual congress attracts hundreds of academics and professionals from Mexico and abroad, including ambassadors, consuls, and representatives of government organizations. The 2025 conference welcomed more than 700 scholars and 1,400 students representing disciplines such as political science, international relations, law, sociology, and economics.

鈥淚 was very honored because each of the divisions at AMEI can nominate only one international expert as keynote speaker,鈥� Bravo said of her experience presenting at AMEI. 鈥淭he International Communication and Public Diplomacy Division selected me as theirs due to my work and research about public diplomacy by governments and diaspora groups from Latin America, which is also the focus of my co-edited book, 鈥�Latin American Diasporas in Public Diplomacy.鈥� They also treated me really well, so I am very grateful.鈥�

The 2025 AMEI congress program is available . Next year鈥檚 gathering will take place in October in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

The School of Communications recognized acclaimed showrunner, writer and producer Asha Michelle Wilson 鈥�13 with its 2025 Outstanding Alumna Award during the school鈥檚 25th anniversary celebration held Homecoming Weekend in Snow Family Grand Atrium.

Wilson, co-executive producer of Fox鈥檚 animated series 鈥淭he Great North鈥� and writer for FX鈥檚 鈥淎merican Horror Story鈥� and 鈥淎rcher,鈥� has established herself as one of Hollywood鈥檚 dynamic creative voices. Her work spans genres and formats 聽鈥� 聽from streaming comedies to psychological thrillers 鈥� showcasing her range as both a storyteller and showrunner.

During his introduction, Dean Kenn Gaither described Wilson 鈥撀燼 former student of his 鈥撀燼s 鈥渁 model alumna who inspires not only for what you do but for who you are.鈥� He highlighted her drive and determination, noting her persistence to succeed in Los Angeles, working as a nanny, Lyft driver, waiter and bookstore employee in pursuit of her Hollywood dreams.

鈥淎sha has created her own opportunity through one percent luck and ninety-nine percent hustle,鈥� he said. 鈥溌衣资悠� communications graduates have a knack of not waiting for opportunity, but creating it.鈥�

.

Wilson鈥檚 writing and producing credits include 鈥淚ncarnate鈥� on Netflix and Amazon鈥檚 鈥淭he Hospital,鈥� and she also produced and wrote the short film 鈥淔riends Like These,鈥� which won honors at the London Short Film Festival. Her recent projects include 鈥淪econd Best Hospital in the Galaxy,鈥� an adult animated sci-fi comedy series. In recognition of Wilson’s success, BET named the 乱伦视频 graduate among 鈥淪ix Black Female Showrunners Who Inspired TV鈥檚 Diverse Renaissance.鈥�

Reflecting on her 乱伦视频 experience, Wilson spoke about the power and support of the school鈥檚 community. 鈥淚 think 乱伦视频 is great at showing all of the professional possibilities that we have in our future,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut something that鈥檚 really underestimated are the personal connections that are made here. Some of my best friends today are from 乱伦视频. I don鈥檛 know if I would have survived as long in LA as I did if not for the connections that I made here.鈥�

The award presentation was part of a larger afternoon program celebrating the school鈥檚 silver anniversary. The event began with 鈥淒on鈥檛 Be a Stranger to Networking,鈥� a casual alumni networking session featuring more than a dozen graduates offering advice to current students. Following Wilson鈥檚 award presentation, both Founding Dean Paul Parsons and Dean Gaither addressed audience members, reflecting on the school鈥檚 growth from a small department to a nationally recognized leader in communications education.

Parsons shared stories from the school鈥檚 early days, when 乱伦视频鈥檚 communications program was still working to make its name known nationally. He recalled wearing an 乱伦视频 name tag at a national conference shortly after arriving in 2001 and being asked, 鈥淣ow, where is Ellen?鈥� The question, he said, reflected how far the school had to go in establishing its reputation.

鈥淎t that time, we focused first on 鈥榯o be鈥� 鈥� ways to be of greater quality to our students,鈥� Parsons said. 鈥淚n time, we became nationally accredited, launched new majors, and started programs like 乱伦视频 in Los Angeles. These efforts to be excellent soon led to our being seen as excellent. Other universities began referring to us as one of the top communication schools in the nation.鈥�

Gaither closed the afternoon by reminding attendees that while facilities, majors and technologies have evolved, the school鈥檚 heart remains unchanged.

鈥淭urning 25 isn鈥檛 a date and it鈥檚 not really a time,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 more of a state 鈥� a state of becoming something bigger, better and bolder. The School of Communications stands strong because of the people who have built, supported and believed in it. This anniversary is theirs as much as it is ours.鈥�

Don鈥檛 Be a Stranger to Networking participants

• Matt Belanger 鈥�05, News Anchor and Reporter, KSTP-TV
• Cally Crocco 鈥�20, Interior Designer, Live Simply Homes
• Eva Fragner 鈥�25, Public Relations, Autumn Communications
• Caroline Gardiner 鈥�25, Account Executive, RLM Public Relations
• Sophia Giuffr茅 鈥�20, Digital Content Producer, Jukebox
• Lila Hoffman-Byer 鈥�25, Social Impact Assistant, Rare Beauty
• Daniela Pereyra 鈥�16, Real Estate Broker, Dalton Wade Real Estate Group
• Aarti Rishi 鈥�15, Brand Marketing Manager, Grubhub
• Jordan Roman 鈥�15, Writer/Director/Founder, Ominous Entertainment
• Jeff Sanders 鈥�00, Chief Architect, Microsoft
• Jeffrey Williamson 鈥�13, G鈥�14, Freelance Photographer and Content Creator
• Asha Michelle Wilson 鈥�13, Showrunner/Co-Executive Producer/Writer, 鈥淭he Great North,鈥� 鈥淎rcher,鈥� 鈥淎merican Horror Story鈥�

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Karla Daniela Estrada Perez is sporting terracotta brown nail polish with white Talavera designs to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The pattern and style are an homage to Mexican artisan pottery. She accents the nail polish with earrings representing el Sagrado Coraz贸n, or the Sacred Heart, a divine symbol commonly used in Catholicism.

For Estrada Perez, she wears both as a symbol of her culture, heritage, roots and history.

鈥淚t serves as a reminder, especially during Hispanic Heritage Month, of who I am and where I came from,鈥� said Estrada Perez, a program assistant in the School of Communications who was born in Ecatepec de Morales in the north of Mexico City and moved to the United States as an infant.

Inspired by her identity and family movement, Estrada Perez double majored at UNC Chapel Hill in Hispanic linguistics and global studies with a focus in international politics, nation states and social movements in Latin America. Linguistics gave her a deepened understanding of the language she spoke at home and expanded her understanding of language as a whole. Global studies expanded her understanding of national and global politics. Together, the majors gave her a broader context and appreciation of not just who she is, but of those around her.

Additionally, Estrada Perez said these majors granted her consistent exposure to Hispanic professors.

鈥淪eeing someone that looked like me or who had similar experiences as me, whether they were Hispanic or from another culture, felt affirming and supportive,鈥� she said.

Before joining the staff in the School of Communications, Estrada Perez held roles at Church World Service and other nonprofits. At CWS, she worked primarily with immigrants, many of whom were unaccompanied minors from Central America and Mexico.

鈥淭he nonprofit I worked at was very diverse with employees and program participants from all over the world who spoke a variety of languages,鈥� she said.

Celebrating heritage is about bringing people together

鈥淚鈥檓 very intentional about my relationships with others, especially students,鈥� said Estrada Perez. 鈥淭here is one student who will regularly invite me to lunch to talk about the outside world and learn about my identity.鈥�

She said, with this student and others, she remembers her own undergraduate experience and embraces any opportunity to feed the curiosity of those who want to learn more about her identity and to form relationships.

Estrada Perez also serves as the co-chair of the Latinx/Hispanic Employee Resource Group at 乱伦视频, which she describes as a space to bring people on campus together of a similar identity. She shared that ERGs on campus make it easy for employees to find people with similar identities and interests and that it is a great way to build connections with others.

鈥淚 love that I can meet people at the university with similar identities who hold different backgrounds,鈥� said Estrada Perez. 鈥淚鈥檓 able to meet a professor who has 20 years on me and is in a different department, and I can now stop and hold a conversation with them.鈥�

Similarly, she appreciates the ways that Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated at 乱伦视频 and the opportunities afforded for people to learn about one another.

鈥淲e are sometimes seen as a monolith by people outside of the Hispanic community,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 important to meet people from different countries who speak different dialects of Spanish or other languages because it鈥檚 a reminder that we are all coming from different places, we are all here and we are all connecting. It鈥檚 super cool.鈥�

Estrada Perez said that the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month at 乱伦视频 feels intentional and opens doors to different conversations. Events and programming open dialogue with students and colleagues with whom members of the community may not have otherwise interacted.

鈥淣ot to be cheesy,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut all of these efforts make the world a better place.鈥�

乱伦视频 honors Hispanic Heritage Month

As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, 乱伦视频 is sharing stories that celebrate the contributions, identities and experiences of students, faculty and staff. This month recognizes the rich histories and cultures of Hispanic and Latinx communities, while also honoring the ways these traditions connect with and inspire people of all backgrounds. This month provides a special opportunity to honor Hispanic and Latinx heritage, but it also serves as an invitation for all members of the university to engage, learn and celebrate together.