About

Program:  Ph.D. Student in the Combined Program in Education and Psychology

Hometown: Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico

Viviana is passionate about teaching and community outreach. She has a bachelor’s in Special Education with an emphasis in Deaf Education and a master’s in Early Childhood and Special Education. Her research interests are bilingualism, heritage language acquisition, and language and literacy development in linguistically-diverse learners. Outside of work, Viviana enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, exploring Michigan with her husband, and collaborating in diverse community initiatives. 

Program: Ph.D. Student in Psychology, Personality and Social Contexts

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

Dianna is a doctoral candidate in Psychology. She studies protective strategies that students can use to combat impostor feelings (i.e., feeling like an intellectual fraud or fake). Before joining U-M’s psychology department, Dianna earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology from California State University, Northridge. In her free time, she enjoys community yoga classes, roadtrips, and going to brunch with friends. 

Program: DDS Student at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry

Hometown: Detroit, MI

Frida is a third-year dental student hoping to possibly specialize in oral & maxillofacial surgery. She completed a bachelor's in evolutionary anthropology at the University of Michigan and grew up in Southwest Detroit. As a dentist, she hopes to mitigate health disparities present in Black, Indigenous, and Latine communities. With Puentes, she hopes to provide mentorship and deepen the connection amongst all Latine students on campus. In her free time, Frida enjoys reading, going on walks, and trying new restaurants.  

Program: Ph.D. Student in Chemistry 

Hometown: Mexico and Colorado

Vanessa is a PhD student in Chemistry specializing in method development and antibody-antigen characterization using mass spectrometry. She is from Mexico and Colorado. Vanessa completed her undergraduate studies at Williams College in Massachusetts, where she double-majored in Chemistry and Arabic. She became involved with Puentes because she was drawn to the supportive community it offers. 

Program: Master’s student at the Ford School of Public Policy

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

Paulina Trujillo is a second-year master’s student at the Ford School of Public Policy, concentrating on social policy. She calls Orlando, Florida, her home. With a background in political science and gender & sexuality studies from the University of Florida, her thesis was on understanding Latine women attitudes towards abortion. Her mother was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and her father in Panama. In her free time, she loves going to concerts and being the photographer friend.

Program: Ph.D. Student in Mechanical Engineering

Hometown: Chicago, IL 

Eric is a Ph.D. Student in Mechanical Engineering studying solid state batteries for use in electric vehicles. He earned his Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With Puentes, Eric hopes to promote unity and mentorship among the Hispanic graduate community at Michigan. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, cooking, and dancing. 

Program: MA Student in Higher Education

Hometown: Humboldt Park & East Garfield Park, Chicago, IL

Elisa Esther is a 3rd semester MA Higher Education student who is interested in researching postsecondary cultural places & spaces and their relationship to foundational organizations in the higher education system. She hopes to pursue a PhD in Higher Education and/or Ethnic Studies to continue this research. Elisa has a B.S. in Social Policy and Latinx Studies from Northwestern University. With Puentes, she hopes to continue to build community at UM and to utilize her passion for archival history as Historian. 

Program: Master of Public Policy and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning 

Hometown: Three Rivers, CA

Rebecca Griswold is a dual-degree student, pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Ford School and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning at the Taubman College. She is originally from the small town of Three Rivers in the Central Valley of California. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Administration from San Francisco State. Her gap between school was filled with teaching English as a second language in Colombia and Argentina, working for the National Park Service, and traveling to numerous international destinations. Outside of classes, you can find her riding her bike, taking yoga classes, rowing on the Huron River, and learning to sail.