The Council is delighted to have the energy, ideas, and skills of our Spring, 2017 interns, Alicia Quiñones and Sonia Garcia. They have been assisting with our Council’s newsletter and other forms of outreach, and updating our Multicultural Resource Guide. 
Sonia Garcia
Sonia grew up in Hales Corners, WI which is about 15 minutes outside of Milwaukee. She is pursuing a degree in Interpersonal Communication, along with minors in Spanish and Ethnic and Racial Studies. Her involvement throughout the past four years at UWL has demonstrated a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Sonia is a McNair Scholar and the focus of her research is on first generation college students from underrepresented populations. She also works with the Institute for Social Justice, Intercultural Organization Promoting Awareness (IOPA), Mujueres Orgullosas (a Latina empowerment group), and as a Peer Coach through Student Support Services.
She is excited to be a part of the Diversity Council as a means to learn more about community outreach, connections between the University and the community, and to be able to help in any way possible. Sonia says the Diversity Council will offer her insight, knowledge, and experience as what it entails to be on a Council. She is very happy to be able to work with a diverse group of individuals who have so much knowledge to share. This experience will help Sonia on her journey to pursue a graduate degree in Student Affairs Administration.
Alicia Quiñones
Alicia is originally from Rochester, MN and moved to La Crosse to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a minor in Public Administration at UW-L. She is a junior at UW-L now, but spent her freshman year at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Alicia is currently serving as the Diversity Organization Coalition Representative for the Latin American Student Organization where she is working to create better connections between organizations in hopes that they can help each other grow. She also just recently became a McNair Scholar and will be starting her very first research project this summer!
Alicia says she is extremely excited to be working as an intern with the Council. “It is an honor to see how the Council conducts their programs with their members while also serving as a great resource to the community. My interest in the Council has much to do with the values their work is centered around, as someone who hopes to one day make a career in Public Policy, diversity and inclusion are large motivators in my own personal drive to success. I am excited to see where this position will take me and hope I can be a unique asset to the Council as we move forward.”
Alicia and Sonia are both unique assets to our program and to our region. As the Diversity Council Director, I feel extremely fortunate to be working with both of them!