• IDRA Newsletter • June – July 2015 •

Dr. Sofia BahenaThis year, the IDRA Newsletter is highlighting our staff’s varied and diverse talents and backgrounds. Dr. Sofía Bahena is a member of IDRA’s Department of Civic Engagement. She is the daughter of Mexican immigrants who taught her the value of hard work and education from an early age, proud aunt to nine nieces and nephews, and native San Antonian. Although she had been away for several New England winters, her heart never left Texas. She is happy to be back and is enjoying falling in love with San Antonio all over again. When she is not in the office she enjoys spending time with her nephews and nieces (which by her 8-year old niece’s account is “more fun than Netflix”), working out at a local gym, exploring downtown San Antonio, and salsa dancing to live music.

Over the last several months, Sofía has been part of a group of Latinos diligently working to establish the Harvard Latino Alumni Alliance (HLAA), the first of its kind to be officially recognized by Harvard University. As a first-generation college student and as a Latina in higher education, the mentorship and support from her community has played a critical role in her academic and professional journey. She hopes that the HLAA will facilitate a greater sense of community within the Harvard Latino community, help promote a more visible representation of Latinos at all levels of the university, and provide mentorship to young students across the country (particularly those who aspire to study in institutions of higher education where Latinos tend to be underrepresented).  Sofía loves to travel new places and eat good food with good people. Her goal is to travel to at least five countries in the next seven years, including Peru, Greece and South Africa.


Comments and questions may be directed to IDRA via email at feedback@idra.org.


[©2015, IDRA. This article originally appeared in the June – July 2015 IDRA Newsletter by the Intercultural Development Research Association. Permission to reproduce this article is granted provided the article is reprinted in its entirety and proper credit is given to IDRA and the author.]

Share