Leeslie Herrera is a senior from Mission, Texas studying criminal justice with a minor in Chicano/Latino studies. She earned an associate degree in criminal justice from South Texas College through an early college program at her high school before coming to MSU. She served as an intern at the Michigan State Police Department where she organizes and produces documents and spreadsheets, and as a College Assistance Migrant Program Ambassador where she works as a youth mentor and manages their social media accounts. She is also a member of Mujer a Mujer, a Latina organization that helps to empower women. She currently serves as the Chicanx Latinx Association representative for Culturas de las Razas Unidas, which is the largest Latinx organization on campus. Here she serves as a liason between undergraduate and graduate students through advocating for undergraduate students by presenting their needs to Latinx graduate association to create a better experience. The most impactful experience she had during her time at MSU was a spring break service trip to Huatulco, Oaxaca, Mexico where she volunteered at a school and got to interact with the locals who were incredibly welcoming and kind. The people of Piedra de Moros, the town she volunteered in, will forever hold a special place in her heart and the experience taught her how valuable education is. During her time as a Spartan, Herrera found a way to serve others, help migrant students and advance her professional goals.
Jenna Malinowski, '23“As a homecoming court representative, I am proud and honored to represent Latinx students, first-generation college students and farm working students. It is also important and exciting for me to represent my people because being in a predominantly white institution can be discouraging for marginalized communities like mine, which can provoke imposter syndrome. But I hope to bring them comfort when they see a face that resembles theirs and remind them that “Si se puede.”