TU celebrates its Hispanic/Latinx Heritage community
Meet members of the growing Hispanic/Latinx community
By Kyle Hobstetter on October 14, 2021
TU is home to more than 1,700 students who identify as Latinx or Hispanic, which is the most in school history. TU is also providing support for its Latinx and Hispanic identifying faculty and staff through the Latinx Faculty & Staff Association.
Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month occurs every year from Sept. 15–Oct. 15 and honors the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans across the United States.
Meet three members of the Towson University Hispanic/Latinx community and learn how they have thrived while being on campus.
Rafael Navarro ’21
International Business Major
In Calvert County, Rafael Navarro didn’t grow up in the most diverse neighborhood. The Hispanic/Latinx community consisted of his and one other family.
His mother was born in Peru and his father is from El Salvado, Navarro was born in the United States, so he is first-generation in this country. When he came to Towson University in 2017, Navarro admits he wasn’t that in touch with his Latin roots.
“I would always try to learn more about my culture through books and documentaries, and I would ask questions about where my parents came from,” Navarro says.
Not many of his high school friends came to TU, so he felt a little nervous about finding his place on campus.
But during his freshman year, Navarro was approached by fellow Latinx students who introduced him to Latin American Student Organization (LASO). He has been a member since and served on the executive board.
He’s also joined other Hispanic/Latinx groups on campus like the Association for Latino Professionals for America and the Pasión Latin Dance Team.
“These organizations ad the Center for Student Diversity have really helped me get in touch with my culture and my background more than I have before,” Navarro says. “I’ve been able to make lifelong friends that I never thought I would. TU has been an amazing experience.”
He also interned at the Center for Student Diversity, where he worked with assistant director Vanessa Gonzalez-Wright. There Navarro helped students who were like him get in touch with their culture and heritage.
“I want to give back what I got,” Navarro says. “That’s what I love about the Latinx community at TU. We might be small, but we’re not afraid to reach out. Once you get involved, it really feels like a family."
Nancy Hernandez ’22
Early childhood and special education major
When Nancy Hernandez transferred from Carroll County Community College in 2020, she started her TU experience virtually.
But when she came to campus this fall, she was looking for a way to connect personally.
Born in Mexico, her family moved to the United States when she was 3 months old. The first-generation college student looked to her heritage when getting involved on campus.
She joined LASO and marched with her fellow Hispanic/Latinx students in this month’s Fiesta Baltimore parade, which was facilitated by the CSD who provided transportation for the students. It was during the parade that she got to show her pride by carrying the Mexican flag through the streets of Baltimore.
“I loved it, because growing up in Carroll County there wasn’t a lot of Latin people, so my culture wasn’t well represented in the community,” Hernandez says. “Having everybody come together for Fiesta Baltimore was amazing. It was like I found my group.”
She also had help from TU’s Hispanic/Latinx community in applying for scholarships. She was a recent recipient of the Featherstone College Scholarship, which is a nonprofit award that helps students who are Mexican nationals or of Mexican origin living in the U.S. continue their education.
She learned about it from the Center for Student Diversity which sends specialized emails to TU’s Latinx- and Hispanic-identifying students about events and scholarship opportunities.
“I wrote my essay about how COVID-19 has impacted me socially, emotionally and financially,” Hernandez says.
“I also wrote about how the scholarship would benefit my future. I wanted to express how I’m ready to get into the classroom, advocate for children with disabilities and individualize their education."
Vanessa Gonzalez-Wright
Assistant director, Center for Student Diversity
Vanessa Gonzalez-Wright initially didn’t want to be in higher education. She is a licensed social worker and wanted to work with formerly incarcerated citizens who were ready to return to society.
But while finishing her master’s degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, she got involved with helping student organizations and working with Hispanic/Latinx-focused groups.
“I really advocated for affirming spaces for identity,” Gonzalez-Wright says. “I wanted students to feel comfortable in who they were on campus. From that, I realized I love identity work [and] culture. As a social worker, I loved healing, and identity work is healing work.”
Now in her third year with the CSD, not only does she work with students to help them find their identity, she helps those who have a similar college experience to hers.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Gonzalez-Wright was a first-generation college student. Her mother is from El Salvador, her father is from Mexico and they came to the United States they were young, with Gonzlez-Wright being a first-generation American.
She knows the college system can be overwhelming to someone without experience. She’s hoping she can help them navigate issues she experienced in college.
Gonzalez-Wright is quick to point out that working with students is the best part of her job. Whether that’s asking about their weekend or learning about life-changing news, she wants students to know her door is always open.
Her other key advice: Take up space.
“It’s important to remind students how impactful taking up space can be,” she adds. “Whether it’s showing up during office hours, attending events, being in the community or being their authentic selves.
“It’s really awesome to see students take up space and feel comfortable with who they are.”
Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity
Center for Student Diversity
The Center for Student Diversity (CSD) was established to aid the university in its efforts to foster inclusion, collaboration and relationship building. It provides academic, social and transitional support for underserved students and promotes exchanges and dialogue between individuals of diverse backgrounds and identities.
CSD home to the Latinx Student Development program, which provides one-on-one advising, student organization advising, and facilitates events and programs focused on issues that impact the community.
Learn more about the Center for Student Diversity by following their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages, or visit the CSD at its temporary office on the third floor of the University Union.