Calling for Mental Health and Dis/ability Justice in Latina/o/x/* Comunidades

1:45pm-3:15pm

Primary Presenter: Emily R. Koren

Session Type: Panel Discussion

Topic: Psychological and emotional well-being and supports

Description

This collective idea generating session will explore dis/ability and mental health justice in Latina/o/x/* communities, particularly in the context of Latinx college students. The purpose of this session is to stimulate a dedicated, empowering, and thoughtful discussion about mental health and dis/ability in Latina/o/x/* communities. The facilitators of the session will share their personal testimonios and invite others to join. Session attendees will generate ideas about how dis/abled Latinx students’ psychological and emotional well-being affects their overall experience in college and how those in their networks support them. This session will be collaborative and emphasizes collective reflection in the name of mental health and dis/ability justice in the Latina/o/x/* community.

Facilitators

Emily R. Koren
University of Pittsburgh
erk68@pitt.edu

Emily R. Koren (she/her) is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy at the University of Pittsburgh. Her research focuses on equity and justice issues for students with dis/abilities, and particularly those with multiple minoritized identities in Hispanic-Serving Institutions. As a dis/abled scholar herself, Emily’s praxis and commitment to critical scholarship and dis/ability justice inform her research agenda, teaching, and practice. Her specific areas of interest include mapping the social support networks of college students with dis/abilities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and decolonizing approaches to dis/ability.

Sendi J. Estrada
Doctoral candidate
Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy, University of Pittsburgh

I was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, and raised in Kansas and Colorado. As a first-generation college student at Colorado College, I double-majored in Spanish and Anthropology with a minor in English. It provided me career opportunities to work in youth development at a non-profit and spearhead a local alumni association. Then, supporting an Associate Dean with equity and diversity initiatives. First-gen students inspired me to pursue and earn a Master's in Higher Education from the University of Denver. Simultaneously, I worked at an HSI in an HSI-STEM grant as an Office Assistant and then as Assistant Director of the STEM Center for Education and Engagement. My professional experience led me to pursue a doctoral degree in the Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy. I love spending time with my two kids, my partner, my family, and my doggy in my spare time.

Bianca Flores
Doctoral candidate
Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy, University of Pittsburgh

Bianca Flores (She/Hers) is a first-generation college student from Watts, California. Both of her parents were born in Mexico. She identifies as Latina, Chicana, and LGBTQ+. She recently graduated with a bachelor’s in chemistry and a minor in Spanish from California Lutheran University. She is currently attending a PREP post-baccalaureate program at the University of Rochester’s School of Medicine and Dentistry. She intends to apply to PhD programs this Fall in Medicinal Chemistry to focus on drug discovery research in natural products. She aspires to incorporate science policy and translational research into her academic career in the near future. During her free time, she enjoys listening to music and dancing, camping, photography, gardening, animals, and creating art.