066: Español - Bad Bunny 101- la clase entra en sesión, con la Dra. Vanessa Díaz

Rebroadcast Ep 019: Getting Back on Track with Dr. Alfredo Angeles-Boza

This is a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes. Enjoy while we work on season 8!

Meet Dr. Alfredo Angeles-Boza, a university professor who reminds us that even if you derail from your plans, it is not too late to get back on track. Dr. Alfredo was born to a middle-class family who supported his education, until the socio-economic situation in Peru made it impossible to pay the university fees of both their sons. A t that time, Alfredo had stopped prioritizing his studies, and as a family, they decided that his brother should continue with his university studies while Alfredo would take a break. Ironically, he won a trip to Spain, and considered migrating and finding a job, but witnessing the working and living conditions that immigrants had to endure made him reconsider his priorities in life. After that experience, Alfredo focused on his studies, graduated from university, found a job in Peru, earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Texas A&M university, and became a tenured professor. By listening to his story one would think Alfredo is a bold individual, but the reality is that he is often scared, but he does not let that stop him from seeking opportunities and achieving his goals.

Rebroadcast Ep 020: Believing in Belonging, Being the Anti-imposter, with Jay Flores

This is a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes. Enjoy while we work on seaon 8!

Meet Jay Flores, an engineer and global STEM ambassador who is on a mission to change the world by inspiring young minds to keep doing cool things with #STEM.

Jay’s parents nurtured his curious mind from an early age, and his mentors encouraged him to develop a growth mindset and take on new opportunities. This environment helped him believe in himself and say YES to experiences that could help him grow, and led him to become the youngest board member of the Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers.

Being the first engineer in his family, Jay took it upon himself to inspire his little cousins to pursue a STEM education, and after working as a sales engineer for a number of years, he became a global STEM ambassador to inspire kids all around the world!

Jay is on a mission to make science and technology interesting, fun, and relatable to young kids, so that they can become the next generation of scientists, engineers and innovators. For those of you who are parents, Jay gives advice as to how to react when your child tells you they aspire to be an Influencer when they grow up!. The trick, he says, is to help your children see the technology behind that, and help them understand that developing technical skills will help them be the best influencer…and if that does not work out, they can always become an engineer.

Some of the opportunities mentioned in this episode:

• First Robotics Competition: https://www.firstinspires.org/
• Follow Jay:https://www.jayfloresinspires.com/YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SHPENUR

Rebroadcast Ep 017: How Good Mentors Can Help You Rise Up, with Dr. Charlie Corredor

This is a rebroadcast of one of our favorite episodes, enjoy while we work on season 8!

Meet Dr. Charlie Corredor, an engineer and entrepreneur who identified the power of mentorships and used it to represent the latinx community around the world. His curiosity and motivation led him to create connections with people who later became mentors, and who opened the doors to the world of science, literally! Dr. Charlie represented the U.S. and Colombia while pursuing research projects in China, Sweden, and France all before enrolling in a dual PhD program at Arizona State University. A twist in the plot took him from to the rainy city of Seattle, where he completed his PhD, a business certificate, and became an entrepreneur and co-founder of an early stage start up. His technical acumen and integrity opened doors for him during a time of transition, and the skills he has developed over the years, make him a valuable member to any team.

066: Español - Bad Bunny 101- la clase entra en sesión, con la Dra. Vanessa Díaz

Conoce a la Dra. Vanessa Díaz, etnógrafa interdisciplinaria, cineasta, periodista y educadora, que lleva con orgullo su origen Borinqueño. En este episodio, exploraremos los fascinantes aspectos de su carrera universitaria, sus proyectos en Cuba, sus experiencias en la revista “People” y cómo estas experiencias la llevaron a escribir su influyente libro: “Manufacturando Celebridades: como los paparazzi latinos y reporteras han construido el complejo industrial de Hollywood”. La Dra. Díaz, nos contará sobre sus motivaciones y desafíos mientras forjaba su camino académico, hablando de cómo sus experiencias personales y profesionales se entrelazaron, proporcionando una perspectiva única sobre el mundo del periodismo y la academia. Desde la influencia de los medios de comunicación hasta la participación activa de las celebridades en su propia construcción de imagen, exploraremos los temas que la Dra. Díaz aborda con agudeza en su obra. Además, nos sumergiremos en su trabajo, como co-creadora y educadora del “Bad Bunny Syllabus”. Descubriremos cómo surgió la idea de diseñar una clase universitaria basada en la figura del astro boricua Bad Bunny. Exploraremos los objetivos educativos detrás de este proyecto innovador, así como la conexión entre la cultura popular, la música y la academia. La Dra. Vanessa Díaz compartirá anécdotas, reflexiones y conocimientos valiosos a lo largo de la entrevista, brindándonos una visión integral de su trayectoria y sus contribuciones al ámbito académico y cultural. ¡Acompáñanos en este episodio imperdible, lleno de insights y experiencias únicas!

065: STEMming from Latin Roots, with Dr. Angel Martí.

Meet Dr. Angel Martí, the first Latino to chair the Chemistry Department at Rice University, who aims to make the department accessible to all. Dr. Martí’s was born and raised in Utuado, Puerto Rico, and grew up in a family of farmers. His childhood was marked by curiosity and homegrown experiments, turning every corner into a laboratory, an early sign of his passion for science. Dr. Martí’s was initially captivated by Math, and participated in the Math Olympics, representing Puerto Rico. After graduating from high school, he enrolled at the university of Puerto Rico. When it came time to choose a path, he strategically decided on chemistry, and after stepping in a lab for the first time, he realized that was where he was meant to be. The road to becoming a professor and a school administrator wasn’t without obstacles. Initially rejected from grad school, he persisted and eventually pursued his Ph.D. at the University of Puerto Rico, despite limited resources. Mentors played a crucial role, guiding him toward postdoctoral positions and faculty roles, yet, as a Latin professor, Dr. Martí has faced additional challenges. Undeterred, he excelled, and his exceptional contributions led him to become the Chair of Rice University’s Chemistry Department. Dr. Martí’s shared about the financial support that Rice University offers to undergraduate and graduate students, and we explored what Rice University can—and must—do to improve Latinx representation. Leave a review: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latinx-can/id1524232753 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/latinx-can-1354080