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/her)
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!
Clarisse Gonzalez (she/her)
Class of 2028
I am a current sophomore and a declared political science major with a sociology correlate. I’m originally from Ecuador; however, I’ve been living in Queens, NYC, for the past 8 years. I’m on the pre-law track and intend to attend law school and pursue family law.
Growing up as a first-generation immigrant, I’m familiar with the systemic disparities embedded within the pursuit of higher education. However, due to these very same reasons, I view first-gen students as resilient, ambitious, and adaptable. Through the FLI Research Team, I aim to encapsulate not solely the barriers that FLI students undergo but also highlight their success stories within education.
At Vassar, you can find me organizing meetings for the Latine Student Union (LSU), planning panels for Vassar Law Club, brainstorming meeting ideas for the club Mosaic (affinity club for women of color), and volunteering for organizations about immigration around Poughkeepsie, and more! In my free time, I enjoy trying foods from different cultures (currently love Indian food), doing my friends’ makeup, and watching horror movies.
Fun fact: I enjoy dancing, and I’m involved in the hip-hop dance club Hype at Vassar.
Kathy Lin (she/her)
Class of 2028
I am a junior Biochemistry major from Long Island, NY, and I used to live in Flushing. Outside of the research team, I work as a lab assistant for the Chemistry Department and serve as the Secretary of Vassar Hunger Action. I am also the HR Manager for Conversations Unbound.
I joined the FLI Research Team because I wanted to learn more about the experiences of FLI students and the various ways students find support and community. I am excited to continue being part of the team and contributing to work that brings attention to these perspectives.
Fun Fact: I am currently rewatching Criminal Minds for the third time.
Alexa Mejia De Jesus (she/her)
Class of 2027
I am a senior Biology major at Vassar College and plan to attend a Physician Assistant program after graduation. My family immigrated to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic and worked hard to build the path to the opportunities I have today, instilling in me the importance of education along the way.
I joined the FLI research team to learn more about the experiences of students from backgrounds similar to mine and help confront the systems that shape their experiences. As a first-generation college student, I understand some of the challenges that many FLI students may experience on campus, and I want to help ensure that their stories are represented in research. I hope to carry these perspectives with me into a future career in healthcare.
Outside of these interests, I enjoy running, reading, and journaling.
Fun fact: I studied public health in Argentina this past spring!!
Mayte Segura (she/her)
Class of 2028
I’m a current Junior double majoring in Sociology and American and Native American Studies! I’m Dominican and Costa Rican, and come from Providence, Rhode Island.
I’m interested in examining the creation and maintenance of identity within schools, particularly K-12. In the future, I hope to find a way to use research to supplement the policy drafting process, ensuring that our laws reflect lived experience. I joined the FLI Research Team because I want to help ensure that FLI voices are heard and our stories are remembered.
On campus, I work at the ALANA Center as an IMAGES Co-Editor and Program Assistant. Aside from my shifts at the center, if I’m not in class or my dorm, you can probably find me at a Mosaic, LSU, or ALANA event, or a talk happening on campus!
Fun fact: I’m always down for a craft!
Kaitlyn Sostre (she/her)
Class of 2028
I am a senior majoring in Sociology and minoring in Economics. I was born and raised in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico and moved with my family to Florida in 2014. (Go Gators!) Post grad I will be working at JPMorgan under the corporate analyst development program, and my dream is to eventually become an institutional investor for non-profit organizations that focus on expanding access to higher education for marginalized communities.
As a FLI student myself, I’ve really been able to find my community here at Vassar. I largely credit my success during my undergrad due to the mentorship and support I’ve received through organizations like FLI. My background and appreciation for the FLI program at Vassar are a big part of why I wanted to join the research team. I’m really looking forward to diving deeper into this year’s research and learning more about FLI students and the program’s impact here at Vassar.
Some fun facts about me: I love to travel (Machu Picchu is pictured behind me), I love music and collecting vinyl as a hobby, and I love to roller skate when I’m back home in Florida.