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Marquette’s Hispanic-Serving Institution Initiative: Raising All Voices

RECORDED ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2020 | 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. CT

Presented by:

  • Jacqueline Black, Associate Director for Hispanic Initiatives, Marquette University
  • Panel Moderator: Dr. Joya Crear, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Marquette University
  • Valeria Navarro-Villegas, Arts '16, Office Associate, Center for Community Service, Marquette University
  • Abraham Ortiz Tapia, Eng '17, J.D. candidate at the University of Illinois College of Law; and Member, MUAA Hispanic Alumni Association
  • Evelia Guerrero, Nursing Student, MUSG President, 2020-21 Pedro Arrupe Award Recipient

The HSI initiative is integral to campus-wide diversity efforts. Since its launch in 2016, the initiative has moved the needle in Hispanic/Latinx student enrollment; but more than just a focus on numbers, members are working toward creating a more inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environment for all diverse stakeholders. In this virtual program, learn more about this initiative from Jacki Black, associate director for Hispanic initiatives at Marquette, followed by a panel discussion with students and young alumni moderated by Dr. Joya Crear, assistant vice president of Student Affairs.

More about this session

Jacki Black has served as the associate director for Hispanic Initiatives at Marquette University since 2016. In this role, Black leads the university’s Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) initiative and contributes to the execution of other campus-level diversity and inclusion efforts. Black earned a BA in psychology from the University of Chicago, an MA in education from Saint Xavier University, and is working towards a Ph.D. in educational policy and leadership at Marquette University. Prior to her role at Marquette, she devoted fifteen years to teaching, mentoring, coaching, and advising in Chicago and Milwaukee schools.

Dr. Joya Crear is the assistant vice president for Student Affairs with more than 20 years’ experience in student affairs leadership, particularly around the areas of diversity and inclusion, counseling and crisis intervention, strategic planning, and student retention strategies. Her portfolio at Marquette includes community service, diversity, assessment, leadership development and mission integration. Dr. Crear holds a doctorate in Counseling Psychology from The Pennsylvania State University. She also attended Howard University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her Bachelor and Masters degrees, respectively.

Valeria Navarro-Villegas, Arts '16, was born in Mexico, immigrated to the US at a young age, and has been a Milwaukeean for the last two decades. Valeria graduated from Marquette University in December 2016 with a Bachelors in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture. Upon graduating she worked within the Milwaukee County Jail through JusticePoint and afterwards worked for Mastantuono & Coffee S.C., a criminal defense law firm. She is currently a Marquette University employee in the Office of Engagement and Inclusion.

Abraham Ortiz Tapia, Eng '17, (he/him/his) is a J.D. candidate at the University of Illinois College of Law and aspires to practice within the public interest law sector serving marginalized and underrepresented communities. Prior to attending the Illinois College of Law, Abraham worked as an Intellectual Property Paralegal at Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. in Chicago, prosecuting design patents and managing design patent portfolios for large and small clients. In addition, after completing his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Marquette University, Abraham served as an AmeriCorps volunteer with College Possible - Milwaukee and interned with Immigration and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities Milwaukee. He also serves on the Marquette University Hispanic Alumni Association. Abraham is a powerhouse in the workplace and in his communities where he uses his leadership philosophy, focused on leading with authenticity and empathy, to listen, engage, and grow with others. Nada es imposible.

Evelia Guerrero is a senior in the College of Nursing from Burlington, Wis. She is a first-generation college student and is part of the Burke Scholars Program and Trio's Educational Opportunity Program. Evelia serves as the student body president for Marquette University and is the first-ever Latina to serve in the role. With her leadership, Marquette University Student Government is concentrating on creating a campus culture receptive to equity and justice and is leading several initiatives surrounding racial justice, mental health and community engagement. After graduation, Evelia plans to serve as a nurse in the Milwaukee area with a concentration in pediatric or neonatal intensive care.