Staying In Touch - LALS Alumni Reflect and Reconnect
How does a Latin American and Latinx Studies minor serve its graduates?
In November 2019, Randy Abreu, '11, discussed his trajectory from Skidmore to law school to policy director to
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) at Skidmore's Generatinos event in November
2019.
This spring, alumni Victoria Malaney-Brown,'10 Tali Linton,'14 and Jane Dowd, '14 reflect on their studies, study abroad, and paths since graduation in interviews
developed and edited by current LALS minor (and Art History major) Alicia Sandoval
Vadillo, '20.
What did you do in the 5 years after Skidmore?
The first two years, I participated in AmeriCorps VISTA national service program focused on eradicating poverty in the U.S. I worked in Albany, NY first working to support women who were re-entering the community after spending time in the criminal justice system. The second year, I was a VISTA leader and Coordinator for Professional Training and Enrichment at Siena College in Loudonville, NY.
My third year out of Skidmore, I came back to campus to work as a fellow in the Office of Student Diversity Programs. I really enjoyed working with college students and supporting diversity, social justice, and inclusion initiatives on campus. While my position was only a year long position, I did find that the experience working in the Office of Student Diversity Programs solidified my plans to pursue a graduate degree in education.
My fourth and fifth year after graduation, I completed my masters in education - concentrating in Higher Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Thereafter, I continued my graduate studies and recently completed my PhD in higher education this year, where I research college students, race, social justice, and multiracial identity on college campuses.
What did you learn in the LALS Minor that you still use today?
I still use the language skills that I learned especially when traveling to spanish-speaking countries and in professional environments.
Did you study abroad? Where? What's your best/ favorite/ funniest memory from abroad?
I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain in the Skidmore y Tufts program. It was an amazing experience;I loved the opportunities I was given to take classes at the program center, learn flamenco, spanish language, art history, and I also really enjoyed the classes at the Universidad de Autonoma de Madrid (UAM). Traveling and exploring Spain with the program while improving my spanish language skills was my favorite part along with enjoying traditional food and wine!
What advice do you have for current students?
Keep an open mind about how understanding how the history of Latin America can supplement and broaden your understanding of the world around you. Remember to use Skidmore's campus resources and take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. It is an amazing experience to live abroad and really immerse yourself in a new culture and language. There might not be another time that this comes along for you to do this, so seize the moment to go outside of your comfort zone.
What did you do in the 5 years after Skidmore?
I worked at the International Center for Transitional Justice in New York the summer after graduating before moving to Madrid, Spain, where I lived and worked for 3 years. I taught English in a few elementary schools and worked for a human rights-focused documentary film company.
While I was there, I co-founded a music-education program that brought instruments to a couple towns in New York and Nicaragua to teach kids music theory and get them connected with music school scholarships. I then went back to graduate school at the University of Denver for a two-year MSW program and started work as a therapist at the Denver Children’s Advocacy Center as part of their Immigrant Family Initiative. I can’t believe it’s been almost 6 years!
What did you learn in the LALS Minor that you still use today?
So much…I took a couple of classes on border politics and immigration that I draw on in my daily work for political and historical context to understand power dynamics and to think about the long-term impact of policy decisions. Learning about voluntourism in Latin America in one class and on a trip to Guatemala also made me rethink my whole identity as a volunteer then and as a social worker now; and I think this influences my constant reflection on my own identities in the context of the work I do now.
Did you study abroad? Where? What's your best/ favorite/ funniest memory from abroad?
I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain and I love remembering a trip we took with the Skidmore in Spain program to Valencia where we played a pretty funny game throughout the day as we broke off into small groups to explore the city. Each group was given a paperclip, and we were told to ask people to trade it for something else throughout the day. So we started off and someone traded the paperclip for a shell, another for a pen, and the trades kept getting bigger until we wound up with a DVD. It was so much fun to meet lots of people throughout the day while exploring and engaging in such a silly challenge!
What advice do you have for current students?
Get to know your professors and their areas of particular interest. Professors’ areas of expertise tend to be the ones that get them the most excited, therefore being the most fun to learn about. Learning about the way these professors wound up finding those passions can be a great way to not only build relationships with professionals with similar interests, but it can also help you find yours!
Jane Dowd, 2014
I graduated with a major in International Affairs and minors in Latin American Studies (it wasn’t a major at that time!) and Spanish Language & Literature.
What did you do in the 5 years after Skidmore?
In my five years since graduating Skidmore, I’ve worked in New York City as a union paralegal and a legal aid immigration paralegal. My work started mostly focused on simple cases like citizenship and green card renewals, but at the end of my fifth year I was working on complex asylum cases and U-Visa applications. I also returned to school at the CUNY Graduate Center and received my Masters in International Migration Studies. My master’s thesis was focused on expanding political asylum to include victims of gang violence in Central America. I’m currently helping design the new Latinx program at a domestic violence agency in Bridgeport, CT.
What did you learn in the LALS Minor that you still use today?
The Latin American Studies courses that I took at Skidmore informed the way that I see the world today. The United States’ economic and political relationships with Latin America are complex and often infuriating. Learning the history of these dealings has helped guide me in my professional career towards improving our inhumane immigration practices and antiquated foreign relations with our neighbors to the south.
Did you study abroad? Where? What's your best/ favorite/ funniest memory from abroad?
I studied abroad in Antigua, Guatemala during the spring of 2012 and I had the absolute best time. I adored the family I lived with and was able to work in Guatemala City for the duration of my 7 month stay in Guate. My favorite memory from abroad was attending my “home stay mother’s” cousin’s wedding in Jocotenango; experiencing different traditions firsthand was a treat and the night was unforgettably fun.
What advice do you have for current students?
My advice to current students is to take risks and explore your interests! There are many interdisciplinary majors and minors at Skidmore and indulging different interests will help you find your passion. I started at Skidmore as a fine arts major and ended up in international affairs and LALS – you never know where you’ll end up if you don’t test different waters.
