Latinx/a/o Cultural Centers in Higher Education as a Source of Identity-Consciousness Empowerment

1:45pm-3:15pm EST

Presenter: Thomas A. Arce, M.Ed.

Session Type: Panel Discussion

Topic: Identities and intersectionality

Description

Thomas, Isabela, Ariana, and Alex have served as primary sources towards Latinx/a/o student
involvement and support at their respective colleges across geographical regions in the U.S.
This panel discussion brings together these student affairs professionals because of the
innovative and creative avenues they have utilized their work at Latinx/a/o-based Cultural
Centers towards empowering the hypervisibility among the intersections of Latinx/a/o
identities (Afro-Latinxs, Indigenous Latinxs, multiracial/ethnic Latinxs, expanding Latinidades,
undocumented Latinxs, LGBTQ+ Latinxs, and the socio-economic/class status and Latinx
identities).

The panelists will shed light on cultural centers, programming creativity, and intersectionality
matrix thinking as sources towards serving the needs of Latinx/a/o student communities on
colleges and universities towards their own identity-consciousness and empowerment.
Panelists will collectively share these strategies from their work and campuses, while also
inviting the conference community sharing in virtual space to dialogue among renewed visions
towards continuing intersectional axis of thinking in student services fields.

Facilitator

Thomas A. Arce, M.Ed.

Director of Student Involvement and Belonging

Oregon Institute of Technology

thomas.arce@oit.edu

Thomas A. Arce (they/them) proudly grew up in the urban community of Gary, Indiana. Thomas
attended the University of Iowa as an undergrad and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political
Science and Certificate in Critical Cultural Competence. Completed graduate studies at Iowa
State University, where they earned a Master of Education in Educational Leadership & Policy
Studies and a Certificate in Social Justice Education. Since graduate school, Thomas has worked
nearly nine years in higher education and student affairs among functional areas: admissions,
fraternity and sorority life, residence education, student life, LGBTQ+ student services, and
multicultural student affairs. Thomas has worked at Grinnell College, Southern Oregon
University, University of Iowa, and currently serves as the Director for the varied and
multifaceted Department of Student Involvement and Belonging at the Oregon Institute of
Technology. Thomas truly believes that working alongside students to support in their personal
and academic pursuits of ‘finding self, understanding self, and negotiating both (and more) of
self’ … have been the upmost joy of life among their higher ed career.

Isabela Flores
Isabela Flores (she/her)
Coordinator, Latino Native American Cultural Center
University of Iowa

Isabela Flores (she/her) is the current Coordinator at the Latino Native American Cultural
Center (LNACC) at the University of Iowa. The LNACC has been a space of belonging for Isabela
for years, starting in her University of Iowa undergraduate career. As a frequent user, she
quickly learned the impact of the LNACC. Isabela created lifelong relationships, found various
leadership opportunities, served as a mentee and mentor, and more. With the LNACC's
support, Isabela was able to make meaning of self and community to craft her own, everchanging, definition of "latinidad". Isabela gives deep gratitude for the generations of LNACC
community that came before her, as their mere presence in space created a lineage that she is
a part of, and as she pays forward now by working to support new and future generations of
Latinx/a/o students.

Ariana Mora Mero
Ariana Mora Mero (she/her)

Coordinator, Latinx Community Resource Center
California State University, Fullerton
Born in Manta, Ecuador, Ariana immigrated to the United States at the age of 10 and grew up in
Iowa. Ariana attended Iowa State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in
Psychology and her Master of Education in Student Affairs. Prior to her role as Coordinator for
the Latinx Community Resource Center (LCRC) at California State University-Fullerton, Ariana
served as the Program Coordinator for Services for Undocumented Students at the University of
California, Merced. As the LCRC Coordinator, she fosters an inclusive and welcoming
environment for all students to feel part of the Titan Community. Recently, Ariana was
recognized with the NASPA Latinx Knowledge Community Outstanding New Professional award
for her service to the Latinx community. On her free time, Ariana enjoys caring for her plants,
dancing bachata, and cooking Ecuadorian food.

Alex Romero Felix
Alex Romero Felix (he/him/él)

Academic Advisor
University of Arizona
Alex Romero Felix, M.A. (he/him/él) currently serves as an Academic Advisor at the University
of Arizona and has been involved in many facets of supporting students in higher education
including: first-generation support programs, summer bridge programs, residence life,
leadership programs, fraternity & sorority life, men of color initiatives, academic advising, and
Latinx programs. Alex earned his Bachelor of Arts in Mexican American Studies/Psychology and
his Master of Arts in Higher Education at the University of Arizona. Over the course of his career
Alex has taught over 12 social justice/leadership courses on college campuses and has
presented on topics like Reframing Masculinity among Latinx students in Higher Education. He
has contributed to the continued conversation of cultural centers on college campuses by coauthoring a chapter entitled “Surviving the Continued Assault of Cultural Centers: Building
Capacity During Crisis”. His current interests are students’ experiences in higher education
(more specifically Latinx/Latino and men of color students) and the roles of Diversity Equity and
Inclusion spaces like cultural centers in supporting marginalized students on college campuses.