Eréndira Rueda, Associate Professor of Sociology
Saludos Transitions students! I’m Professor Rueda (she/her/hers), one of the faculty members on campus who identifies as part of the Transitions Family. I grew up in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. I’m fiercely proud of having grown up in a Spanish-speaking, low-income Mexican immigrant family and of being the first in my family to go beyond a middle school education. I am sibling-mother to my three younger siblings and have always been the path breaker in my family. I take great pride in the fact that my success has always been the result of collective efforts in my family, that it has reflected the hard work and sacrifices that my parents made as immigrants, and that I am now in the position to serve as the safety net for my family.
Things I love: mini-donkeys, being bi-coastal (CA-NY), when students send me postcards from their worldly travels. I’m an extroverted sociologist who loves to do things in groups, including research.
Kayla Gonzalez – Class of 2020
Hi! I’m Kayla (she/her/hers), and my home is in Los Angeles, CA (although I try to make a little home everywhere I go). I’m an English major with a focus on creative writing, and I also have a correlate in sociology. At Vassar, I’m a senior intern for the Transitions Program and a member of the Latinx Student Union.
Whatever I end up doing in life, I want it to revolve around the power of storytelling. That is why I joined the Transitions Research Team. My parents immigrated from Mexico, and that’s something I’m really honored to carry with me into my academic journey. First-generation, low-income, and undocumented stories are not always told in the most positive or respectful ways, and my goal is to help change that. The research team has pushed me to think outside of my usual ideas of storytelling (namely, creative writing) and instead use research and academic essays as a form of sharing powerful narratives. Through this form of storytelling, I hope to advocate for students who have worked so hard to exist in academic spaces but do not feel supported or seen.
Fun Fact: I took a year off from Vassar and worked at my former high school as an AP English assistant teacher, assistant college counselor, Mock Trial coach, and Speech and Debate coach. I also have a really cute sticker collection! And I’m a Capricorn!
Evelyn Lazaro-Ruiz – Class of 2021
Hello! My name is Evelyn (she/her/hers) and I am from Watsonville, California. I am a Sociology major who is trying to get either a double major or concentration in Education. I heard about Vassar the last few days before the admission application deadline when a college representative gave a presentation in my high school. (Never underestimate the power of those pretty brochures!) I applied because I wanted to see the actual seasons change, which I found out is great until you are trying to get to class and the rain or snow gets intense… and because many of my teachers and counselors strongly suggested I did.
Coming to Vassar was very nerve wracking because not only was I going away from home but I became aware that being a low income, first generation college student would make my experience different. I am very grateful to have attended Foundations, the pre-orientation program that Transitions organizes. This helped me familiarize myself with the campus but also get to know other people I could talk to and relate to. Joining this research team is a way to learn about and connect with other low income and/or first generation college students in order to bring more light to our experiences.
Fun Fact: I got to go to China this past summer and co-teach English classes for kids with a friend!
Eugene Lopez-Huerta – Class of 2020
Hi friends! I’m Eugene (he/him/his) from Las Vegas, Nevada. After a semester abroad, it’s good to be back in Poughkeepsie. I am a Media Studies major, with two correlates (minors) in Urban Studies and Hispanic Studies. As a senior I am looking forward to attending meetings for the Latinx Student Union, attempting exercise at the gym, and catching concerts in NYC. Yay!
As a first-generation, low-income child of immigrants, I feel a lot of personal responsibility to attend college. And the first time I heard of Vassar was in a rap remix of a Vampire Weekend song (how on-brand for me). Later in high school, I learned about QuestBridge and found Vassar was a partner college. I endured the college admissions process, applied to just a few schools, and ended up accepting my offer to Vassar. Jumping across the country has been a challenge for my family and I, but I am so glad I took the opportunity to see more of the world. I am really passionate about supporting my peers and “passing the microphone” to others who deserve the chance to tell their stories.
Two truths and a lie: I’ve crowd-surfed at a concert, I don’t like pineapple on pizza, and I played the violin in high school.
Majella Sheehan – Class of 2022
Hi! I’m Majella Sheehan (she/her/hers) and I was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. I’m a soon-to-be Sociology major with a correlate in Computer Science. I’m a proud first-generation college student and daughter of immigrants. Vassar’s support through the Transitions Program for students like myself was a deciding factor in my decision to come to Vassar (after financial aid, of course). I’m not exactly sure what I want to do after graduation, but I hope it involves Sociology because I have grown to love it. My introductory course in Sociology was the first time I read pieces written by voices similar to my own and it allowed me to develop a language to discuss things I had experienced throughout my entire life.
At Vassar, I am an intern with the Student Growth and Engagement Office, as well as a Student Leader for the Transitions Program. I volunteer off-campus as a child-care provider and fundraiser with Nobody Leaves Mid-Hudson, a local, immigrant-rights non-profit, and Pets for Patriots, an organization that pairs veterans with pets who need to be adopted. I’m super excited for the upcoming school year and to join the research team to work with this amazing group of people.
Fun Fact: For the last three summers I have worked for the Bronx Zoo’s Education Department facilitating free, educational activities for guests.
Maira Vargas – Class of 2022
Hi everyone! My name is Maira Vargas (she/her/hers). I was born in Barranquilla, Colombia and moved to Brooklyn when I was 5. I heard about Vassar through a friend my Junior year and applied the following year through Questbridge. The college process was arduous and I wouldn’t be at Vassar today without the help of so many others.
At Vassar, I’m on House Team (Go Jewett!) as a student fellow and am involved with Vassar’s Christian organization (VXF). I will soon declare a Sociology and Education double major with hopes of going into non-profit Higher Education Advocacy work in the future.
I’m super excited to see what this year holds and especially to be a part of the Transitions Research team. I’m so proud of being a part of this community and being able to share that with so many other amazing people on campus.
Fun fact: This past summer I worked at Cooper Hewitt’s summer camp and taught the son of Morgan Spurlock (aka the guy from Super Size Me)!
Vanessa Vazquez – Class of 2021
(Studying Abroad in Spring 2020)
Hi everyone! My name is Vanessa (she/her/hers) and I’m from Yonkers, NY. I heard about Vassar through my college advisor in high school (she was the best). She forced me to apply and now I’m here! Learning about Transitions and Foundations was one of the reasons why I committed to attending Vassar. I am an Environmental Studies major focusing on chemistry and sociology. I am a member of Latinx Student Union, Strong House Team, African Violets, ADSE-Alliance for Diversity in Science and Engineering, and Vassar Greens.
I joined the Transitions Research Team because it wasn’t until I came to Vassar that I felt “different” for being first-gen and low-income. I find strength in my family and community because of everything they’ve done and continue to do for me. These are the strongest people I know. They make me proud of being a first-gen, low-income, child of immigrants, and I hope if you identify with any of these characteristics, you’re proud too. Places like this weren’t made for people like us, but look at us! I want first-gen, low-income students to be heard and feel as though they belong here. And I want Vassar to make changes to make sure all students are heard, welcomed, and supported.
Fun fact: My all-time favorite animal is a penguin. Any species of penguin. I love makeup but I’m too lazy to do it every day. I’m in a kombucha (really tasty drink) phase right now.