Hispanic Heritage Month Resource Guide

This page includes information about just a few of the people, research, and creative works with Hispanic/Latine connections at Drexel that have inspired us – and we hope they will inspire you throughout the year!

Ana Martinez-Donate is a professor of Community Health and Prevention in the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University, joining the School in September 2015. Martinez-Donate's research work has focused primarily on Latino populations in the U.S. and Mexico. She applies a social ecological framework to the analysis of behavioral and social determinants of population health and the development and evaluation of community-based interventions for disease prevention and health promotion. Martinez-Donate's research work has focused primarily on Latino populations in the U.S. and Mexico. She applies a social ecological framework to the analysis of behavioral and social determinants of population health and the development and evaluation of community-based interventions for disease prevention and health promotion.

Ana V. Diez Roux, MD, PHD, MPH, is a Distinguished University Professor of Epidemiology at the Dornsife School of Public Health and Director of the Drexel Urban Health Collaborative. Originally trained as a pediatrician in her native Buenos Aires, she completed public health training at the Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health. Before joining Drexel University, she served on the faculties of Columbia University and the University of Michigan, where she was Chair of the Department of Epidemiology and Director of the Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health. In 2023, Dr. Diez Roux stepped down from her position as the Dana and David Dornsife Dean. She is currently Principal Investigator of the Wellcome Trust funded SALURBAL (Salud Urbana en América Latina) study.

The Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) creates opportunities, adds value, builds relationships for its members, the community, and its business partners while expanding Latino leadership in the global workforce. At a time when the business community desperately seeks talent and America’s young Latinos desperately seek opportunity, ALPFA is a bridge between the two resulting in thousands of Latino college students in paid professional internships and careers. ALPFA is open to anyone who is interested in expanding their networking and communication skills.

Bienvenidos Hispanic/Latino Faculty & Professional Staff Association

Through membership in Bienvenidos Hispanic/Latino Faculty & Professional Staff Association, Latino, Latin American, and other employees sharing our interests, will have the opportunity to connect, share experiences and expertise, and promote cultural awareness and professional development. We will carry out our mission through various programs and events, contributing significantly to Drexel University's diversity efforts. Be sure to check out the Spring 2022 Newsletter for events, networking opportunities, and more!

Celeste Dolores Mann has taught Spanish and Portuguese for years, at various universities. Before coming to Drexel, she taught at Villanova University. Celeste has an extensive background in opera and theater, and integrates the performing and visual arts in her language teaching whenever possible. Celeste has taught computer education and enjoys using technology to enhance the learning of languages. In her language teaching she hopes to inspire students to excel in their ability to speak, read, understand and write Spanish and Portuguese, and to appreciate the beauty, enchantment and diversity of the many Latin American and Iberian cultures. Her research interests include Second Language Acquisition and Language Pedagogy; the life and music of Brazilian composer, Francisca “Chiquinha” Gonzaga; theater in Spanish and Portuguese; Hispanic and Brazilian Film; and Latin American and Iberian Music. 

The Libraries is proud to have worked with Professor Mann on the 2022 exhibit “Drexel Cartonera: Memorias Al Cartón” featuring handmade books--written in Spanish--by Drexel students as part of the course Performing Spanish: Language Proficiency through the Arts. 

The LMSA chapter here at DUCOM exists to serve as a safe haven for present medical students and an outlet for community engagement in the Latinx population. We aim to serve the diverse patient population that the great state Pennsylvania has to offer, while simultaneously allowing our members to gain exposure to the vulnerable populations they will be serving as a clinician. Through mentorship, service, and education we aim to empower our members to be the force that corrects the health inequities that presently exist in medicine to date.

Hispanic Organization of Latinx Alumni (¡HOLA! Drexel) is an organization for Drexel alumni from all colleges and academic programs who identify as Hispanic, Latino and Latinx. The mission of ¡HOLA! Drexel is to recognize, celebrate and support Drexel alumni who identify as Hispanic, Latino and Latinx through thoughtful programming and networking, while also providing guidance and mentorship for current Drexel Latinx students. This organization allows you to attend events that highlight Hispanic, Latino and Latinx professionals and address challenges on campus and around the world; cultivate networking opportunities across industries and affinities for professional development and business growth; and connect with current Hispanic, Latino and Latinx students and alumni through mentorship and networking opportunities. 

Jennifer Thorndike-Gonzales, who started in the role of Associate Director of the Student Center for Diversity and Inclusion (SCDI) in 2023, has been working in diversity, equity and inclusion spaces throughout her whole academic career. She earned her doctorate in Hispanic Studies at the University of Pennsylvania and spent five years as a professor before making a career switch and working in DEI at the University of New Haven. Her goal at Drexel is to make students feel a sense of belonging and inclusion through the Student Center for Diversity and Inclusion by enhancing partnerships and programs that already exist. 

The mission of Latino America Unida, Lambda Alpha Upsilon Fraternity, Inc. is to be a network of professionals that promotes brotherhood, scholarship and service to the community. The fraternity promotes brotherhood by providing its members personal and professional support on an undergraduate and alumni level. Our members pursue scholarship not only for professional advancement, but to attain personal growth. The brotherhood serves the community by sponsoring events which aide those in need, promoting cultural awareness, and enriching the collegiate environment. Every member must continue to uphold the mission and goals of the fraternity, as they are the common values that distinguish us as Hermanos of Lambda Alpha Upsilon.

The object of the Latinos for a United Campus organization is to create Latiné cultural awareness and to unite the Latiné community at Drexel. Membership is open to all full-time, part-time, undergraduate/graduate students, alumni, faculty, and staff of Drexel University. No student shall be denied membership based on grounds of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability. 

Associate Professor Miguel Pando has over 16 years of experience as a tenure-track/tenured faculty in geotechnical engineering. His research involves soil-structure interaction, mitigation of natural hazards, and sustainable geomaterials. Since 2010, he was an associate professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Prior to that, he was a faculty member in the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez. Dr. Pando's research interests include foundations and soil-structure-interaction, natural hazards (landslides, earthquakes, hurricanes), liquefaction and soil dynamics, re-use and recycling of waste geomaterials, geotechnical aspects of preservation of historical structures, engineering education, diversity, recruitment, and retention. 

Nuestra Cultura (September – October 2022)

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Nuestra Cultura exhibition stands proud as one of identity and artistic expression. This exhibition showcased some of the work done by a group of Westphal undergraduate Latinx artists in an effort to bring awareness to the Latiné identity while also encouraging other Latinx artists to be proud of their roots during this month and beyond.

Octavio Borges-Delgado earned his PhD in Hispanic Cultural Studies from Michigan State University. He is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Spanish in the Department of Global Studies and Modern Languages at Drexel University. His research and teaching examine contemporary narrative representations of Hispanic Caribbean migrations to the United States. An important part of his research focuses on transnational issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and national identity concerning migration and postcolonialism in literature and popular (sub) cultures. He has taught courses on Spanish as a second language, Hispanic/Latinx identities, Latin American migrations to the United States, and Hispanic Caribbean literature and cultures. Check out Dr. Borges-Delgado's recent writing: “Las poéticas de género de la música urbana latina: placeres convencionales, masculinidades y voces de mujeres en el reguetón y el trap” (pg. 87). 

Pablo Molina serves as Drexel's Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Associate Vice President (AVP). He leads the University Information Security Team, which oversees University-wide security policies and controls. Dr. Molina has made his team's mission "to protect the people, the information, and the systems of Drexel University." His team has pursued this initiative through security awareness training, compliance, and risk assessments. Dr. Molina holds a Doctorate degree on the adoption of technology from Georgetown University and an MBA from Saint Louis University. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional, as well as a Certified Information Privacy Professional. 

As Vice Provost, Rogelio Miñana works with faculty, staff and students on the integration of global opportunities into Drexel's curricular and scholarly practices. His ultimate goal is to situate global engagement, together with the Drexel Co-op program and civic engagement, as an indispensable pillar of Drexel's scholarly and academic reputation here and abroad. Dr. Miñana is a teacher and scholar dedicated to the practice and promotion of global engagement, from language learning to global studies, education away, transnational research and community engagement. His research and teaching center on cultural nonprofits that use theater, digital storytelling and literature in their work with underserved communities, particularly around Miguel de Cervantes' Spanish classic “Don Quixote.”

The mission of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers - Drexel Chapter is to promote the development of Hispanics in engineering, science and other technical professions within the STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) to achieve educational excellence, economic opportunity, and social equity.  We fulfill this Mission by increasing educational opportunities, promoting professional and personal growth and reinforcing our reputation as a vital Hispanic organization.  We also carry out our social responsibility to be involved in education, business and enhancing pride within our organization.

Steve Vásquez Dolph is an assistant teaching professor of Spanish in the Department of Global Studies and Modern Languages. His research and teaching examine the relationship between global diaspora and climate change, with a special focus on Spanish-speaking immigrant communities in Philadelphia. At Drexel, he has taught courses on sanctuary cities, food sovereignty and cultural translation. He is the coordinator of Elementary Spanish for the Modern Languages program, and a Teaching Faculty Fellow at the Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, where he leads a working group on Community-Based Global Learning (CBGL).

• Bienvenidos Newsletter Fall 2023
• Drexel Spanish Club on Twitter
• Drexel Student Center for Diversity and Inclusion
• Finding Latin American Inspirations in the Library & Archives [Academy of Natural Sciences]
• How the Latino Experience has Evolved on Drexel's Campus [Drexel News]