CLR/LALS Establish External Advisory Board

by Ahtziri Alviso

Over the past three years, the CLR and LALS department have been working with Dr. Marisa Alicea to identify a small group of DePaul alumnae/i and community members who will serve our units as an External Advisory Board. This volunteer group will serve as advocates, advisors, and resources for CLR & LALS faculty and students. The group will meet quarterly to remain informed about CLR & LALS activities and to establish a plan to assist in our efforts. The board’ s work is grounded on a common understanding of the importance of the opportunity to study and research Latin American and Latinx communities.

The inaugural meeting for the new CLR/LALS External Advisory Board was held on June 30th, 2022. Ahtziri Alviso ’22, a newly minted alumna herself, provides us with her narrative about the celebratory banquet that capped off the evening.

My name is Ahtziri Alviso. I am a 2022 graduate of DePaul University and last year, I worked as the student assistant for the Latin American and Latino Studies Department (LALS) and the Center for Latino Research (CLR).

In June, I had the amazing opportunity not only to assist with the creation and execution of the Inaugural CLR/LALS External Advisory Board Meeting, but also to participate in this event, which was held on June 30th, 2022. The event consisted of a banquet for alumnae/i who had been invited to back to DePaul to serve as members of an new, external advisory board. The alumnae/i were joined by DePaul faculty and students to celebrate the ongoing and increasing success of the Latinx community at DePaul. As a recent first-generation Latina DePaul graduate, I felt it was incredible to see fellow alumnae/i with the same background as me and many of my peers, who were working as professionals and serving in the positions that we hope to hold in the near future – all while proudly representing their Latinx heritage and culture.

The Board holds its inaugural meeting at the DePaul Art Museum.

Alumnae/i were invited on a walking tour of DePaul’s Lincoln Park campus and then were treated to a private visit in the DePaul Art Museum’s collection of Latinx art. After the inaugural board meeting, the alumnae/i, headed over to Cortelyou Commons for a banquet.

During dinner, twelve alumnae/i were formally welcomed to the advisory board. The event honored the alumnae/i’s current and past careers over drinks, dinner, music, and gift bag giveaways as a small token of appreciation. As part of the event, faculty, including Dean Guillermo Vásquez de Velasco and Associate Dean Jacqueline Lazú, were able to give a few remarks. They discussed the impact of the Latinx community on the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, as well as gave personal statements as participants in the Latinx community.

Professors Carolina Barrera-Tobón, Delia Cosentino, and Lourdes Torres at the Banquet.

A wonderful aspect of this event that gave a very personal touch to the evening was that students including myself were able to give a few remarks about our own experiences as Latinx and/or firstgeneration college students and graduates of DePaul. I discussed my struggle with imposter syndrome, and how more often than not I have felt like I was not qualified to be where I am, to have the opportunities I have had, or to hold the positions I have had. In my experience, the only position where I have truly felt a sense of belonging has been working for LALS and CLR as their student assistant.

The biggest takeaway I wanted alumni, faculty, staff, and my fellow peers to take from my experience was for them to know how the LALS & CLR, its offices, classrooms, and faculty, create an environment of belonging and celebration of our heritage, cultures, and identities.

Abigail Ares of the Development Office, LAS Dean Guillermo Vásquez de Velasco and Bill Johnson González

Throughout my college career, I have realized how departments like these are crucial to the development of young Latinx as students and as people. As many students like myself begin to realize that we belong and deserve to be in the positions we are in because we have earned them, LALS & CLR have become safe spaces for our struggles and a supportive environment for our growth. Listening to everyone’s experiences and seeing fellow alumnae/i as first-generation Latinx professionals working in positions that I hope to see myself in someday was very inspirational and motivational.

Ahtziri Alviso '22 delivers remarks during the banquet at Cortelyou Commons.

Throughout the event, I was able to reflect with the alumnae/i more on my role as a first-generation Latina preparing to go into the working world, as well as how my background and experiences will play into my career. This experience created such a positive impact on me because it was an amazing sight to see so many people actively making an impact on the Latinx community. The future of the board is a bright one, as it consists of incredibly caring, and devoted alumnae/i who have the best interests at heart for the Latinx community at DePaul. I am so excited to see all of the amazing work this board will do.

Profs. Jacqui Lazú and Marisa Alicea with Board member Michelle Morales.