You can download my curriculum vitae (CV) here or resumé here.
EDUCATION
Dec. 2017, University of Texas at Austin
Master of Arts, Latin American Studies
Master of Science, Community and Regional Planning
Thesis: Liminal Lives: Haitian Migration to the Barrio
of La Zurza, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
May 2014, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, Political Science & Spanish
Minor: International Studies, Latin American emphasis
Thesis: “La mano invisible: Statelessness, Discrimination, and
Citizenship among Haitians and Dominico-Haitians in the Dominican
Republic”
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS
October 2022 | College Student Well Being, Trauma, & Resilience | Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
AREAS OF RESEARCH INTEREST
Academic and Financial Retention,Transnationalism and identity within the context of migration; globalization and its effects; African Diaspora in Central America and the Caribbean, especially in the Dominican Republic; critical race theory; cultural studies; masculinity, class, gender, sexuality and ethnicity
FELLOWSHIPS AND GRANTS
Fall 2024 Aspiring Latino Leadership Fellowship (ALLF) through Latinos for Education.
Received 9 month fellowship advance leadership and professional development to
connect to other Latinx/e leaders in the San Francisco Bay Area
Spring 2023 Professional Development Grant, UWL Academic Council. Travel to Las Vegas, NV
to attend annual American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE)
Conference. Awarded $1,625.
Spring 2019 Professional Development Grant, UWL Academic Council. Travel to Detroit, MI
with colleagues for conference focused on student success. Awarded, $2,000.
Spring 2017 LLILAS Conference Grant, Travel to Nassau, The Bahamas, to present paper.
Awarded $500.
Fall 2016 Grossman Fellowship, Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies,
Awarded $1,250 and waiver of nonresident portion of tuition for 16-17 academic
school year.
Spring 2016 LLILAS Conference & UT-School of Architecture Conference Grant, Travel to Port-
au-Prince, Haiti, to present paper. Awarded $750.
Fall 2015 National Science Foundation International Research Experience for Students
(IRES) Fellowship, NSF & UT-School of Architecture, Awarded $7,500 for
training through a practicum course and independent thesis research in Santo
Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Summer 2015 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship, Florida International
University and U.S. Dept. of Education, Miami, FL, Awarded $6,680 to study
Haitian Creole at FIU’s Haitian Summer Institute & travel to Haiti.
Fall 2014 Mebane International Travel Scholarship, UT-School of Architecture, Awarded,
$2,250.
Fall 2014 McNair Graduate Fellowship, UT-Graduate School, Awarded $24,000.
Spring 2014 Rackham Merit Fellowship, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.A competitive,
merit-based fellowship awarded to a select number of incoming graduate students
entering the University. (Respectfully declined)
Spring 2014 UCSC Fellowship, University of California—Santa Cruz. (Respectfully declined)
Fall 2013 McNair Conference Grant, Travel to New Orleans, LA, to present paper.
Awarded $1,200.
Summer 2013 McNair Grant, Travel to prospective graduate schools in Albuquerque, NM, &
Austin, TX, Awarded $2,500.
Spring 2013 McNair Conference Grant, Travel to Atlanta, GA, to present paper.
Awarded $1,200.
Summer 2012 McNair Grant, Travel to prospective graduate schools in New York, NY,
Awarded $1,800.
Summer 2012 McNair Summer Grant, to conduct further research on undergraduate project,
La Crosse, WI, Awarded $3,000.
Fall 2011 UW-L Undergraduate Research Grant, “Coloring a Multilayered Nation: Café con
Leche (Coffee with Milk), Awarded $2,800.
Fall 2011- Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program Fellow
May 2014
Fall 2010- Eagle Mentoring Program, CLS, UW-L, Protégé
Spring 2011
ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS
Fall 2022 Transfer Advocate of the Year | UWL Academic Advising and Careers Services
Spring 2016 Award for Reflective Practice in Community & Regional Planning, School of Architecture, The University of Texas at Austin. Project: “Entrelazando Miradas,” Latin American Planning Practicum
Fall 2015 ¡Lanzate! Travel Award Program "Dándole Alas a Tu Éxito/Giving Flight to Your Success,” Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) with Southwest Airlines, awarded roundtrip airline ticket as a student pursuing higher education to travel back home.
Spring 2014 UW-L Commencement Student Speaker
Spring 2014 College of Liberal Studies Student of Excellence Award
Spring 2013 UW-L Foundation Scholarship recipient; Judith L. Kuipers Scholarship,
Awarded $1,000.
Spring 2012 UW-L Foundation Scholarship recipient; Dr. James Parker, Awarded $350.
UW-L Foundation Scholarship recipient; Tazmin Alrich Esposito, Awarded $250.
UW-L Foundation Scholarship recipient; Eagle Pride, Awarded $500.
Spring 2014- UW-L Dean’s List
Spring 2010
PUBLICATIONS
Rubio-Zepeda, J., Zavala, D. and Henning, M. (2021). “Takeaways from Mentoring Programs at a PWI in the Midwest, 2008-2021.” Special Issue. The Chronicle of Mentoring and Coaching. UNM Mentoring Institute.
Rubio-Zepeda, J., et al. (2016). Entrelazando miradas: Hacia una nueva visión de la infraestructura socio-comunitaria (Reimagining Community Infrastructures) (B. Sletto, Ed.).
Rubio-Zepeda, J. (2016). “Transitory Ghosts: Haitians and Dominico-Haitians in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic,” Portal Magazine, Vol. 11.
Coleman, Andrew & Rubio-Zepeda, J. (2012). “Location & Identity: A Perspective on LGBT Bi-Cultural Identity,” Rainbow NAFSA: Association of International Educators, SIGnals Newsletter, Vol. 18, No. 2.
CONFERENCES AND INVITED TALKS
“Othering and Belonging Conference: Belonging Without Othering.” 2024 Othering and Belonging Institute. University of California, Berkeley. Oakland, CA. Participant. April 25-27, 2024.
“The Economics, Data, and Humanity of Immigration: Lessons from the Coulee Region Panel.” UWL Social Justice Week. “Providing Access through the Pandemic: Humanizing Migration with Cariño, Advocacy, and the Role of Community Organizing and Collaboration.” University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. La Crosse, WI. Panelist. April 5, 2023.
“La Lucha Sigue: Refusal, Resistance, and Praxis at Critical Junctures.” American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Annual Conference. College of Southern Nevada. North Las Vegas, NV. Participant. March 1-3, 2023.
“Pushing the Ladder: Liberating Ourselves, Environmental (In)Justice, Activism, and Joy.” Social Justice Week. Keynote Speaker with Adam Maurer. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. La Crosse, WI. April 4, 2022.
“(Re)Writing and Un(Learning) Our History: Ghettos, Hispanics, and Solidarity Movement Building.” White Privilege Symposium. La Crosse Center. La Crosse, WI. Presenter. December 3-4, 2021.
“Takeaways from Mentoring Programs at a PWI in the Midwest, 2008-2021. 14th Annual Mentoring Conference. Mentoring in an Interconnected World. University of New Mexico. Albuquerque, NM. October 18-22, 2021.
Competency Symposium: Strategies for Institutional-wide Competency Development. Participant. Austin, TX. May 20th-21st, 2020.
IUPUI: Assessment Institute Conference. Participant. Indianapolis, IN. October 13th-15th, 2019.
Student Affairs Administration Teaching Symposium. Participant. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. La Crosse, WI. June 8th-10th, 2019.
Promoting Persistence and Practice. Participant. Great Lakes Regional Student Success Conference. Oakland University. Detroit, MI. March 20-22nd, 2019. (forthcoming)
Student Personal Association Conference. Participant. Gordon Dining & Event Center. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Madison, WI. January 17th, 2019.
“The Importance of High Impact Practices.” Keynote Speaker. Heikma Scholars Program. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. La Crosse, WI. October 24th, 2018.
“La resiliencia y el derecho a la ciudad: Conmemorando diez años de esfuerzos compartidos en Los Platanitos (2008-2018).” Participant. Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU). Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. March 15th-17th, 2018.
“Transitory Ghosts: Haitian Migration to the barrio of La Zurza, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.” (Re)framing Caribbean Narratives of Development: Embodiment and Place. (Chair and Organizer). 42ndCaribbean Studies Association Conference: Culture and Knowledge Economies: The Future of Caribbean Development. Nassau, The Bahamas, June 5th-10th, 2017.
“Ni aquí, ni allá: Liminality among Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent in the barrio of La Zurza, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.” North Central Council of Latin Americanists (NCCLA) Conference: Ties that Bind: Latin American Studies in a Global World. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. La Crosse, WI. November 4th-5th, 2016.
“(In)visible Labor: Commodification and Exclusion of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian-descent in the (In)formal Economy of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.” Resistance and Resilience: Historical and Contemporary Responses Panel. (Chair and Organizer). 41stCaribbean Studies Association Conference: Caribbean Global Movements: People, Ideas, Culture, Arts and Economic Sustainability. Turgeau Port-au-Prince, Haïti, June 5th-11th, 2016.
“Infraestructuras Interconectadas: Personas, Organizaciones, Espacios.” Presentation to Santo Domingo city officials, NGOs, and residents of Los Platanitos, Santo Domingo Norte. Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña (UNPHU). Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. March 16th, 2016.
“Trujillo, the Dominican Patriarch, New Masculinities.” Navigating Invisible Spaces: Predicaments, Projects and Promises for Actors on the Extremes of Marginalization Panel. 33rdLatin American Studies Association Conference: Precariedades, exclusions, emergencias. San Juan, Puerto Rico. May 27th-30th, 2015.
“The Latino/a Student Experience at UW-La Crosse.” IV Annual La Crosse Area Latin American Latino/a Studies Collaborative Workshop. Viterbo University. La Crosse, WI. April 26th, 2014.
“Race, Masculinity, and the Transnational Subject in the Works of Junot Díaz.” Radical Caribbeans/Los Caribes radicales: Repositioning Caribbean Life. Tulane University. New Orleans, LA. October 2nd-5th, 2013.
“Race and the Transnational Subject in the Works of Junot Díaz,” & “A Notion of Home: Caribbean Literature and Dislocation.” (Chair and Organizer). National Conference of Undergraduate Research. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. La Crosse, WI. April 13th, 2013.
“Drown in Junot Díaz’s Racial Discourse.” Altered States, Diverse Routes Interdisciplinary Conference in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. Emory University. Atlanta, GA. February 22nd-23rd, 2013.
“I am,” & co-facilitator of, “Privilege Walk.” Multicultural Student Leadership Retreat. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Office of Multicultural Student Services. Houston, MN. October, 2011.
“Dealing with Leadership Burnout.” Student Leadership Retreat. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Office of Multicultural Student Services. Caledonia, MN. April, 2012.
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford University | Stanford, CA
Assistant Director for Diversity and Inclusion (Sept. 2023-present)
Collaborate and act as liaison with DEI partners in SDSS departments, programs and institutes to implement graduate student and postdoctoral initiatives related to recruitment and inclusion efforts (e.g., Grad Day, PRISM, Dean’s Grad Scholars, DEI liaisons, university recruitment visits, and community events) and report on program impact
Grow and manage day-to-day activities of the Respectful Community program and other internal community events including curriculum/workshop development, marketing material design, event and participant management, budget, and program evaluation
Support and facilitate critical dialogues about DEI praxis, understanding the intersectionality of identities and social experience, anti-bias training, and other best practices with School community members
Work with Director and partners across school to embed inclusive practices within field and outreach programs, faculty mentoring programs, graduate and postdoctoral professional development, etc.
Create and update DEI content for website, brochures, recruitment and retention materials to distribute through various Stanford communications channels, including email list and social media.
Develop and deliver training of graduate students, postdocs, and staff as recruiters at key national conferences, target campuses, etc.
Devise and communicate strategies, with the Director, recruitment and inclusion in collaboration with partners in departments and programs
Assist the Director, Associate Deans and DEI committees in long-range planning with program insights, literature reviews, data collection and analysis, reporting, etc.
Contribute to and inform program planning and ongoing development
Assist Director with grant management administration and with monitoring DEI office budget and expense accounting
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Multicultural Student Services Office (OMSS) | La Crosse, WI
Co-Interim Director (June 2022—August 2022)
Promoted and renewed OMSS, through the division, and the university
Coordinated short- and long-range planning for OMSS, including strategic planning
Served as a point person from OMSS and consulted with Interim Assitant Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion regarding student issues and concerns
Developed, defined, and began to revise departmental procedures in conjunction with UW System and university policies and initiatives
Represented OMSS at university and community events
Encouraged and supported community outreach and involvement
Assistant Director for Retention (Sept. 2021-Sept. 2023)
Served as a liaison with the UW-La Crosse Financial Aid office and UW System; meet regularly with FA and UW System staff members to stay up to date regarding financial aid & Lawton and AOP policy changes
Reviewed and oversee the pre/post -test assessment tool for the Lawton Grant
Helped coordinate and implemented Maxient software and serve as liaison between OMSS and Student Life
Established and maintained ongoing assessment efforts to evaluate the quality of the UWL Lawton program to include qualitative assessment
Assisted as a liaison between OMSS and Cashier office regarding financial concerns
Served as the liaison for the University Foundation Scholarship Committee
Served on the UWL Financial Literacy Committee
Collaborated with OMSS staff to track and meet regularly with assigned multicultural students who are on academic probation, are academically ineligible and/or are attempting to reenter the university
Provided academic advising to support student retention and graduation initiatives
Identified and helped resolve obstacles impeding the academic success of students (or a particular subset of students for example probation, transfer, or scholar students)
Analyzed students' academic and personal issues/concerns and provides referral/intervention services
Led the hiring, training, evaluation, and supervision of one full-time professional (academic advisor), graduate student, and up to 8-10 work study and student help employees
Coordinated transition and retention strategies for multicultural student populations to address differentials in attrition and retention.
Served as liaison for students with DACA and/or undocumented status
Transfer Student Retention Specialist. (Aug. 2018-Sept. 2021)
Maintained database to track student outreach and academic status/progress
Assessed success of retention efforts regularly processing and reviewing student reports, analyzing information according to particular underrepresented groups and presenting data
Developed measurable retention strategies and action plans for transfer student’s cohorts
Identified priorities, strategic goals, and action plans to enhance student progress to degree completion in partnership with campus partners
Provided leadership, oversight, and case management for transfer students of color by providing advocacy and support through an early alert system, advising, and 4D Academic Success Program
Assisted students’ professional development within school (resumés, CVs, cover letters, internships, scholarships, graduate school applications) and beyond through holistic advising
Supervised two full-time staff members
Coordinated two retention programs, Multicultural Business Scholars Program (MBSP) & Hekima Scholars Program
Updated various social media pages, created publicity, and marketed programming for the office
University of Texas at Austin
Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, Student Programs Office. Graduate Research Assistant. (Sept. 2017-Jan. 2018). Responsibilities included but not limited to:
Co-developed curriculum to help with academic, professional, and wellness programs for graduate students
Published monthly newsletter regarding events, scholarships, conferences, and other funding opportunities for graduate students
Conducted and developed survey to assess students’ needs and improvements in the Latin American Studies graduate program
Served as a liaison between Student Programs Office and students
Assisted with recruitment (emails, phone calls, Skype and/or in person) for the LAS program
International Office. Research Assistant. (Feb. 2017-May 2017). Responsibilities included but not limited to:
Developed a new Latin America curriculum integration guide for students studying abroad in Latin America
Created, edited and proofread various documents using Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat
Researched existing study abroad programs in Latin America
Conducted interviews with UT faculty members and administrators regarding improvements to study abroad programs in Latin America
Assisted Associate Director of Study Abroad with curriculum mapping
Obtained testimonies and photos from undergraduate students who participated in programs
Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, Office of Development. Graduate Research Assistant.(Sept. 2015-May 2016). My responsibilities included but were not limited to:
Aided in the creation and edited content for annual publication of alumni newsletter, VISTAS
Coordinated and executed special events for Development Office with events such as the fall and spring Advisory Council meetings, Student Fellowship & Scholarship luncheon, LLILAS Alumni Reunion, and other events
Stewarded donors by drafting and mailing out acknowledgement letters
Contacted designated alumni to build an online alumni profile bank
Assisted Director of Development at LLILAS and Development Office and Alumni Coordinator with scheduling alumni events
Executed administrative duties (excel spreadsheets, VIP database, creation of documents for events, etc.)
SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
EFN 250 Class (Understanding Human Differences) (Fall 2010-May 2014) Panelist. Invited speaker to discuss issues regarding racism and citizenship to freshman seminars and the challenges arisen with being a person of color and the process of becoming a Naturalized U.S. Citizen.
Vanguard Organization (June 2012-May 2013)
Campus Ambassador. Promoted UWL programs to incoming prospective high school, undergraduate, and graduate students and assisted the Office of Admissions with various outreach recruitments events across the country.
Awareness through Performance (January 2010-September 2010; January 2011; May 2013)
Group Leader. Advocated for social justice, diversity, and climate issues on the UW-La Crosse campus and greater community. Theatrical performances are used as a vehicle to challenge various systems of oppression and privilege, inspire active social responsibility, invoke critical thinking, and ignite dialogue among the campus community.
Latin American Student Organization (LASO) (September 2010-May 2014)
Vice President. Organized and cultivated events focused on social/cultural programming occurring in Latin America, including speakers, documentaries, and community outreach.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
The University of Texas at Austin, Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies & Department of Community and Regional Planning. Graduate Student. Under the mentorship of Dr. Bjørn Sletto, and Dr. Jossianna Arroyo-Martínez, developed master’s thesis project through various readings and independent study courses to narrow my research, which took place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Department of Political Science & Modern Languages
Researcher. Under the mentorship of Dr. Ray Block, Jr., researched and wrote a research grant proposal to travel to the Dominican Republic analyzing the construction of national identity among Dominicans and Haitians and how Dominicans articulate and understand their identity, measuring attitudes toward Haitians and implications of racial ideology.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Dr. Ronald E. McNair Scholar’s Program
Program Scholar. Under the mentorship of Dr. Omar Granados, focused on the intersections between race, masculinity, and transnationalism in Caribbean literature. Researched and wrote several papers on the works of Junot Díaz, which were presented at various professional conferences.
UNIVERSITY & COMMUNITY SERVICE
Committee Member, UWL Education Abroad Advisor Search Panel, Feb-March, 2019
Pre-College Coordinator Search Panel, March-April 2019 & April-May 2021
Multicultural Student Case Manager (Non-clinical) Search Panel, April-May,
2019
McNair Scholars Advisory Board (2019-present)
Hekima Scholars Advisory Board (2019-present)
Advanced Opportunity Program Grant (2020-present)
Social Media Coordinator, Coulee Region Immigration Task Force (June 2019- Sept 2023)
Facilitator, Waking Up White Initiative (October 2019)
Member, Economic Vitality Committee (EVC), Downtown Mainstreet, Inc. (2020-2023)
Board Member, Coulee Region Authentic Learning Council (2020-2023)
Member, La Crosse County Economic Development Fund (EDF) Board (2021-2023)
Member, La Crosse Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) (2021-2022)
PROFESSIONAL AFFLIATIONS
American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (2023)
Latin American Studies Association (2014-present)
American Planning Association (2014-present)
Caribbean Studies Association (2016-present)
LANGUAGES
Spanish and English: native fluency speaking, reading, and writing knowledge (native of Honduras)
Haitian Creole: basic speaking and writing
ACADEMIC & PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Antoiwana Williams, M.S.Ed. Víctor M. Macías-Gónzalez, Ph.D.
Former Director of AAO and Youth Safety Professor of History and WGSS
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
608-785-8225 608-738-8724
awilliams@uwlax.edu vmacias-gonzalez@uwlax.edu
Richard Sims, Ed.D. Celeste Guzmán-Mendoza, Ph.D.
Interim Chief DEI Officer Asst. VP, Alumni Relations & Dvlopment
Edgewood College Trinity University
575-202-9932 956-472-1241