Student journalists shines a spotlight on my campus involvement in one of his recent articles in The Flat Hat. My role in Political Latinx United for Movement and Action in Society (PLUMAS) and other Latinx organizations has shaped me profoundly. And of course, my freshman year engagement with William and Mary Fighting for Immigrant Rights and Equity (WMFIRE) holds a special place in my heart. 

As part of my work with the Center for Student Diversity at William & Mary, I had the opportunity to create something meaningful for our Latinx community—the College's first-ever Carne Asada celebration. Held during Latinx Heritage Month, this event brought together traditional foods like marinated beef, chicken fajitas, elote, and other authentic dishes that reminded many students of home. The celebration highlighted the growing Latinx presence on campus—a significant change from years past when representation was minimal. As one attendee noted, "Food is such an important aspect to any community," and this event created exactly the sense of belonging I had hoped for. Many students expressed appreciation for having a space where they could connect with their culture before fall break.

Take a look through my creative process as I designed the Ceremonia Raíces stole at William & Mary, a symbol of cultural inclusivity for Latinx graduates. The stole celebrates the journey of graduating seniors and graduate students as they embrace the rich diversity of our campus community.

I had the wonderful opportunity to present my RSMJ poster again at yesterday's Sci-Fri Night event in the ISC, thanks to Prof. Bravo's encouragement. The experience allowed me to share BRAVO Lab's work with the greater Williamsburg community, introducing visitors to new concepts in substance use research. I'm especially grateful to Prof. Hunt for organizing this valuable community-academic exchange, where conversations with attendees provided fresh perspectives on our harm reduction approaches and correlation analyses. These interactions not only educated community members but also offered insightful feedback that will help shape our future research directions.

Charles Center summer funded research presented at a local conference on the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and immune function in U.S. college students. Analyzing over 2,100 responses with Prof. Bravo's guidance revealed significant correlations between early trauma and health outcomes. This research underscores the importance of understanding how childhood experiences continue to impact physical health throughout college years.

Presented my research on family dynamics, rumination, and marijuana use patterns across cultures at the 7th RSMj Conference in Long Beach. 

 I presented my work on the B-YAACQ scale's effectiveness in identifying at-risk college drinkers across seven countries at the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction conference in Albuquerque. This valuable experience allowed me to share findings with addiction specialists, receive expert feedback, and build professional connections in the field. Working under Prof. Adrian Bravo's mentorship, this conference significantly enhanced my understanding of addiction science while providing a platform to contribute meaningful cross-cultural research to the psychological community.