Eréndira Rueda (she/ella)
Professor of Sociology & Latin American and Latinx Studies

Saludos FLI students!

I’m Professor Rueda, one of the faculty members on campus who identifies as part of the FLI Family. Although I live in NY most of the year, I’m a Californian through and through. I grew up in East L.A. and the San Gabriel Valley in a Spanish-speaking, telenovela-loving, Mexican immigrant family.

Things I’m proud of:

• Being a pathbreaker: I’m the first in my family to complete more than a middle school education.
• Being a sibling-mother to three younger Rueda super siblings, all of whom are now also university educated. (Sí se pudo!)
• The hard work and sacrifices that my parents made as immigrants and the collective efforts in my family to get me where I am today.
• Now being able to serve as the financial and administrative safety net for my family.

Fun facts: I’m an avid distance swimmer and I’m a little obsessed with mini-donkeys, Scottish Highland cattle, and Valais Blacknose sheep. I’m bi-coastal (CA-NY) in non-pandemic years. I’m an extroverted sociologist who loves to do things in groups, including research!

Anika Cousins (she/hers)

Class of 2027

Hi! I am Anika, a senior Education Major with a Mathematics Correlate. I was born in Jamaica, but have lived in Upstate NY for most of my life. Outside of classes, I work with high school students from the local community through Vassar’s Education Collaboration program, Exploring College. There, I help students navigate high school and prepare for the transition to their post high school paths.

I joined the FLI Research Team because the FLI program has provided me with invaluable support during my time at Vassar. Through the research team, I want to better understand how other FLI students are analyzing their experiences and how the program can continue to support students as they work toward their goals.

Fun Fact: I really enjoy listening to music; my longest playlist is over two days long!