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The 2008-2009 LSU Executive Board
President:
Name: Manuel (Manny) Ruiz
Year: Senior
Major: General Business
Minor: U.S.
Latino Studies
Nationality: Salvadoran/Mexican
ˇHola
comunidad! I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA and I
currently live in Silver Spring,
MD. I started my
involvement in the LSU as part of the community service committee in the
fall of 2006. As a transfer student from Montgomery College,
the LSU provided me a means of interacting with the Latino community on
campus and an opportunity to become involved. The LSU opened up many
doors for me and allowed me to make great friendships. During my
junior year, I became the LSU's VP of Community
Service and I also became involved in the student-led initiative to pass
the USLT program on campus. My involvement on campus stems from my
strong belief in giving back to my community and helping it prosper. My motivation
to work within the Latino community and enact positive change can be summed
up in one of Mahatma Gandhi's famous quotes: "You must become the
change you wish to see in the world." I am a strong believer
that we can all make great and positive changes within our community.
Thus, I want to help create a stronger sense of community for us here on
campus and create a positive change by serving as LSU's
president. I enjoy working within the LSU and my goal is to motivate
others to become active members of not only the Latino community on campus,
but of our entire collective community on campus.
Other Organizations:
-Proud Hermano of La Unidad
Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc. I serve as Phi
Chapter's Community Service Chair.
-I am also a Delegate for the Hispanic Heritage Coalition.
Contact Manny at: mannyruiz213@gmail.com
VP of Advocacy:
Name: Arelis R. Hernandez
Year: Senior, Class of 2009
Nationality: Americua, (Puerto Rican American, notice
the order)
I am a senior broadcast journalism major with an eye for news about Latinos
and a unwavering commitment to giving a voice to the voiceless. I am from Prince George's
County and have helped the LSU behind the scenes for more than 3 years. I
covered them as a reporter for the Diamondback and as the former managing
editor of La Voz Latina, which experienced a
transformation in Spring 2008. Through this position I hope to usher
the nascent U.S.
Latina/o studies minor into the next generation, ensuring its academic
rigor, relevance, and recruitment. If you have a news tip or idea on how
the Latino Student Union can better serve your needs please feel free to
email me.
Contact Arelis at: hernandezdbk@gmail.com
VP of Culture
and Programming
Name: Jose Espejo
Year: Senior
Major: Government and Politics
Minor: Latin American Studies
Nationality: Peruano
Hey I was born in Lima,
Peru and now live in Rockville, MD. I am a Senior Government and Politics
major with a certificate in Latin American Studies. This is my second year
on the board as I was VP of Public Relations last year. I was a part of LSU
during my first two years as a general body member and I would go to some
of the events but I wanted to get more involved on campus so I decided to
take a leadership position last year. I enjoyed it so much that I decided
to come back. Thanks to LSU I have been able to meet a lot of people, from
students to faculty, and it also gives me the opportunity to give back to
my community. LSU has definitely provided a great resource for me both on
and off campus. I definitely look forward to working with everyone, one
last time as I will be graduating in the Spring.
Contact Jose at: pepe4187@gmail.com
VP of Public
Relations
Name: Eddie Arias
Year: Sophmore
Nationality: Salvadoran
I grew up in Long
Island, New York
and I am a huge of the Giants! And the METS! I chose to attend the University of Maryland because they have a great
engineering program from which I will be graduating in 2011. Throughout
high school I was very involved in various extracurricular activities but I
never took a prominent role in the Latino Community. Through LSU, I have
been able to learn more about Latino issues while serving the Latino
community in many different ways. I look forward to working closely with a
lot of people to truly make a difference in the community around us!
-Proud Hermano of La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity,
Inc. I serve as Phi Chapter's Vice President.
Contact Eddie at: eddiea08@gmail.com
VP of Community
Service:
Name: Natalie M. Guerra
Year: Junior, Class of 2010
Nationality: 1/2 Bolivian & 1/2 Guatemalan
Born in D.C, raised in Maryland, I am the 2nd child of four
siblings. I have an Irish-twin sister, meaning I was born before she turned
1 year; we are twins for 13 days! My Bolivian heritage comes from my mami's side and my Guatemalan side is via my papi. I play the piano and also sing; something I have
been doing for the past 10 years at my parish this coming November '08. I
am very approachable, friendly, love our Latino culture, trilingual
(Spanish, Portuguese, & English) and I like sports; I was in crew in HS
and played basketball last semester on campus. I love to bake--make some
GOOD Tres Leches!
There's so much more but that's enough for now. =)
I was very involved with LSU last year, ever since I found
out when they met, by attending all the general body meetings, the LSU
sponsored events, and helping out with the community service events.
Volunteering, reaching out to other communities,
is a great passion of mine and being a lending hand goes a long way.
Something small means more than you know to the person/people receiving
your help. The feeling of helping out is something words themselves cannot
explain; you need to volunteer in order to experience it. I am also
the Sports Editor for La Voz Latina which made
its debut in the Spring '08 and I am part of the Latinos Unidos Committee, making sure that the USLT minor stays
throughout the years and makes a difference at
UMD, CP campus. I am one more Latina
at UMD and I will make sure that we make ourselves known; Sí se puede!
If you ever need any help, a
lending hand, someone to talk to, a friend, or more information on upcoming
community service events, feel free to contact me at nmguerra712@gmail.com
Gracias! Thanks! Obrigada!
Contact Natalie at: nmguerra712@gmail.com
VP of Finance:
Name: Gladys Mendoza
Year: Junior
Nationality: Salvadoran
I am an Economics and Family Science double major with an interest in uniting
Latinos on campus. I became involved in LSU during my freshman year
by joining the Freshman Council. Through the Freshman Council, I met most of my best friends and I then decided
to take a leadership position my sophomore year, which was VP of Recruitment
and Retention. I was able to help freshmen build and form friendships
as well as gain leadership skills. Now, as VP of Finance I hope to
help LSU by fundraising not only for all of the committees and events LSU
holds, but also raise money for charity events and special causes. If
you have any ideas or suggestions, feel free to contact me.
Contact Gladys at: gmendoz1@umd.edu
SGA Liaison:
Name: Flor de Maria Garay
Year: Junior
Nationality: Salvadoran
Contact Flor at: flordemariagaray@gmail.com
Secretary:
Name: Ana Maria Reyes
Year: Junior
Nationality: Ecuadoran
I came to the U.S. 8 years ago. I am a third year
Anthropology and Spanish major. I became involved with LSU last year as
historian. The Latino Student Union was a not only a great place for me to
develop leadership skills
but also to give back to the community, and be involved on campus while
still having fun and making new friends. My career goal is to become an
archaeologist with specialization in Andean Pre-Columbian civilizations.
Contact Ana at: anamaria@umd.edu
Recruitment and
Retention:
Name: Rossana Espinoza
Year: Sophomore, Class of 2011
Nationality: Bolivian
Hello! I am originally from La Paz,
Bolivia but
I currently reside in Silver Spring MD with my family. I am a government
and politics major but especially interested in Latin American politics. At
UMD, I am a member of the International Studies scholars program and also
the
opinions editor of La Voz Latina. My interests
and hobbies include dancing bolivian music,
eating out, and (of course) my academics. I do
what I can to be involved with my community because it is important to me.
In the future, I hope to go to graduate school and travel around the world!
Contact Rossana at: cloroxwhite@gmail.com
Historian:
Name: Zuleima Hidalgo
Year: Sophomore
Major: Kinesiology
Nationality: Colombian and El Salvadorian
I got involved with Latino Student Union because I wanted to be a
part of the changes that occur not only throughout our campus, but
throughout the Latino community as well. I was never able to be a part or
get in touch with my Latino roots as much considering that all my family
lives far away from me. Becoming a part of the Latino Student Union has
helped me better interact with others that share the same kind of
nationality and cultural background as me. I am now more open,
not only to change, but to other people as well. I hope to continue
building a stronger union amongst our campus with not only Latinos, but
with everyone! Being content in life is what you want, but being successful
is what your strive for!
Contact Zuleima at: endearingreminiscence5@gmail.com
Advisors:
Dept - Facilities Management
Maintenance Mechanic
31 years employed at the university
9 years advisor to LSU
10 years advisor to HHC
Certificate in Spanish from UMUC in 2003
I became involved with the Latino community on campus
through my job as more Latinos came into the workplace and I began to
develop friendships with my Latino
co-workers. In 1998 (I think) I was asked to assist the HHC with the
logistics for the Hispanic Heritage Festival. Working with the students to
accomplish the festival brought me into the HHC/LSU community and I found
it to be a very rewarding experience and a truly warm and friendly
community. I was asked to serve as advisor to the HHC and then to the LSU.
It has been many years now and I continue to be both happy and honored to
be a part of the Latino community.
Contact Dave at:
djones1952@gmail.com
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