Letter from the Director: Fall 2018

Fall 2018

Dear Latino/a/x Studies, and intersecting ISU Communities,

This is my second year here, and I am thrilled with all of the amazing energy I see around me this fall.

The USLS Program is here to serve the ISU and Iowa communities on many levels. First, please review our course offerings as new classes have been cross-listed, and new classes are being offered. A new internship class (USLS 49) has been approved, and a new class about Latinos/as and Immigration in Iowa with a community component (USLS/Span 325x) will be offered in the Spring.

We are also teaming up with the Rising Stars Program, thus USLS will be offering a new, structured, year internship opportunity.

USLS has two wonderful ambassadors, available for tutoring, and connecting our campus USLS communities. They volunteered this past weekend at the Des Moines Latinx Festival. The weather was wonderful. The food and music reminded me of all of the ways our multiple communities can celebrate together.

Latina-Chilean poet, author, and human rights activist, Dr. Marjorie Agosín regaled us with a lecture at the Memorial Union that included readings from her poetry and award-winning novel. We were very fortunate to have a student pizza lunch for a more informal experience.

We are here to think about cross-cultural collaborations, expand our thoughts on diversity, and actively support an inclusive environment where we learn about the histories of Latinos/as/x .

Also, we will be celebrating our 25 Year Anniversary in the fall of 2019. I hope that Latinos/as/x on campus will come to this program as a space that offers a harbor of safety and learning. And I invite all others to join us as we learn all of the constructive ways through which all of our identities are important and make a difference together.

Please visit our webpage regularly for course updates, events, and activities.

I look forward to meeting many new faces this year.

Happy Autumn!

Dr. Lucía M. Suárez