John Bender

Co-Lead and Treasurer Nominee

I am happy to accept another leadership role in Lakers Unidos, and really in any capacity where I can help the group continue to grow and thrive for our members.  I specified Treasurer as I have a number of prior appointments in this area for similar groups.  In any case, I would continue to use my extensive contacts and knowledge of University processes for the groups' benefit.

Thalia Guerra-Flores

Co-Lead Nominee

Over the past year, I’ve worked hard to introduce new events and create opportunities for both staff and faculty to engage more meaningfully with our community. I believe strongly in fostering professional development, and I’ve strived to bring initiatives that benefit all of our members. Consistent communication has been a cornerstone of my approach, ensuring transparency between the board and our members to maintain trust and collaboration.

If re-elected, I am committed to expanding our events and finding new ways to amplify the voices of Lakers Unidos members on campus. My goal is to provide more opportunities for our members to be heard and respected, building an even stronger and more inclusive presence within the broader campus community.

Thank you for considering me as your Co-Lead nominee. I am excited about the future of Lakers Unidos and the chance to continue serving and supporting our mission.

Adrian Hall

Co-Lead Nominee

I should be elected to serve as Co-Chair for Lakers Unidos because I have currently served on the board for the past three years. During my time serving on the board, I have been a key contributor in supporting other FSA’s at their events as a Lakers Unidos representative. As well, I have been a key contributor by serving as Co-Chair for the Latinx Graduation Celebration by assisting with event planning, providing a welcome address and execution of the event. Outside of events, I have worked alongside my colleague to establish significant relationships with our Latinx students to provide better support to them, academically and professionally. Overall, through my experience serving on the board, I feel I can continue to contribute to the mission, vision, and values of the group. I am confident that my experience and skills from not only my time serving on the board, but from my role as a Student Success Coach for Student Support and Belonging will allow me to contribute effectively to the group and support its ongoing success of supporting Latinx faculty, staff, and students.

Andrea Johnson

Secretary Nominee

I am nominating myself, Andrea Johnson, for the position of secretary on the Laker Unidos board. As a Laker for A Lifetime, I have had the unique pleasure of participating as both a student and a staff member in events across campus focused on Latinx populations. I am passionate about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all Latinx students, faculty, and staff at GVSU. In my three years as a staff member at GVSU, I have volunteered at many Laker Unidos events, including Laker Familia Graduation and Laker Familia Orientation.

For the past two years, I have served as secretary on the Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling (MACAC) executive board. Currently, I am a student organization advisor for the Delta Tau Lambda Sorority, a Latina-based organization at GVSU. When serving in a leadership role, I strive to empower peers to share their unique perspectives, encourage collaboration across the university and community, and create a true sense of belonging.

Based on my previous experience, I feel confident that I will succeed in the job duties outlined for the secretary position. I look forward to working with you all!

Doris Penn

Co-Lead Nominee

Thank you for nominating me as co-chair of the Lakers Unidos Committee. I feel this is an important work within the university and that my diverse experience and knowledge would serve this committee well. I have long been committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and recognize as well as understand the different barriers faced by Latine and other minorities in different fields. It is important to me to create an environment that is inclusive, value, and trusting of each other.

Being an international Latina first-generation student, and working in different fields and industries, I went through many adjustments adapting to new college environments, ideas, and values. I was exposed to a different education system, teaching and communication styles. This was challenging and a scary journey to navigate in life. I believe that many individuals have similar challenges regardless of their educational and socio-economic backgrounds. If elected, I would like to work with the other co-chair(s) to make sure our committee stays on task and making a difference in faculty, staff, and student experiences within the Latine community.

Currently I work as an Academic Advisor in the CLAS academic advising and teach US 102-Career Development at GVSU.

Rebeca Barajas Juarez

Secretary Nominee

While I have been a success coach since 2021, I have been a Laker since 2017, having spent my first few days on campus with my Laker Familia. Early on as a student I learned the importance of being part of a network that can provide you and others with cultural support and a sense of belonging. I believed this to be true as a student and I still believe this to be true today. I have been involved with Lakers Unidos for about two years now and I have grown very appreciative of the way our group has slowly grown again and engaged with our campus. I would love to contribute to the ongoing movement as the secretary for Lakers Unidos and continue supporting our network of Latinx/e university members.