Join us for a conversation on Latine education, belonging, and equity, moderated by andromeda writer/director Jax Ovalle and featuring Dr. Isaura B. Pulido and Dr. Jennifer Juárez. Grounded in personal experience, the speakers will reflect on their paths into Latine-focused work, examine how current political and institutional shifts are impacting students and research, and explore how imagination, community knowledge, and interdisciplinary thinking can help re-envision a more just educational system. A brief audience Q&A will follow.

The evening will open with a screening of andromeda(6min), a Latine-led series about first-generation college students. The featured episode, “Library,” follows Rosa as she searches for her place on campus and ultimately finds a connection in her university’s Latino History section.

 About Isaura B. Pulido, Ph.D.:
Isaura B. Pulido, Ph.D., is Professor of Education and Latino/a/x and Latin American Studies at Northeastern Illinois University and Special Assistant to the President for HSI Affairs. A first-generation graduate and CPS alum, her research advances equity for Latiné students across P–12 and higher education, focusing on HSIs, structural barriers, and institutional transformation.

About Dr. Jennifer Juárez:
Dr. Jennifer Juárez is Director of Higher Education Policy at the Latino Policy Forum, leading research and strategy to advance equity across Illinois. She holds a Ph.D. from UIC and has 20+ years of experience. Her work supports Latina/o/x/e students and Hispanic-Serving Institutions, promoting belonging, leadership, and student success.

About Jax Ovalle:
Jax Ovalle is a Guatemalan-American musician and filmmaker based in Chicago. Their interdisciplinary projects explore identity, healing, and belonging through music, film, and immersive storytelling. Past work includes the feminist rock band CABRONA and andromeda, a DCASE-funded web series about the first-generation college experience.