About us
Who are we?
The Carolina Latinx Center provides students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to explore Latino cultures, histories, and traditions and to use that understanding to work across racial and ethnic communities in North Carolina, the country, and the world. For faculty, staff, and students who are engaged in research, teaching, and/or service related to Latino communities and issues, the Center connects them both with one another and with community partners.
Since our founding in October 2019, we have been able to imagine, build and institute several new programs. As we continue to form, we are pursuing additional funding avenues to continue to meet the demand of our community.
Our history
The idea behind creating a center for Latinx students, faculty, and staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill began at the start of the 21st Century with the increasing number of Latinx students being admitted to the university. Over the next decade, the Latinx community’s growing presence made the idea for a center shift from a desire to a necessity.
In 2008, Ron Bilbao (UNC Class of 2010) led a student-driven effort to organize support for such a center. Bilbao worked alongside students, faculty, and administrators, and urged then-Provost Bernadette Gray-Little to convene a committee to explore the formation of a university center for the Latina/o community. This committee’s work ultimately led to the creation of the Carolina Latina/o Collaborative, which launched in 2009 on UNC’s South Campus.
Initially formed as a program under the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, the Collaborative was envisioned as a first step toward developing a full-fledged center. Offices and classroom access were provided at Craig North Residence Hall, where Latinx students and faculty could create programming and address the community’s needs on campus. Under the leadership of Josmell Perez, the Collaborative quickly became a hub of cultural and academic activity, developing programs and events that elevated the profile of Latinx students and faculty.
Our values
The pillars that guide and inform our actions in all that we do.
Diversity
By centering the many ways we are different, we can celebrate what unites us and work towards the inclusion of us all.
Familia
We are sustained by fostering deep connections between students, faculty, staff, and the broader Chapel Hill community.
Orgullo
Our members embrace their spaces of service, scholarship, and leadership with strength and joy.
Innovation
We foster collaboration between students, faculty, and staff to innovate education.
Empowerment
Our environment is designed to create empowered leadership to further cooperation and partnership.
“The Carolina Latinx Center supports UNC-Chapel Hill’s communities and educates the campus and beyond through engagement, scholarship, cultural awareness, and public service.”
Josmell Perez
Director
Our Staff
Our comprehensive and diverse team, ranging from professional directors to student ambassadors!
Josmell J. Pérez
Director
Marcela Torres-Cervantes
Associate Director
Nestor Rodriguez-Garcia
Program Assistant
Paul Cuardos
Faculty Associate
Dayanara Camacho-Galacia
Student Ambassador
Mia Melendez-Ruiz
Student Ambassador
Estefani De Paz Rodriguez
Student Ambassador
Karen Chavez-Chavez
Student Ambassador
Maria Fernanda Barriaga-Mateos
Student Ambassador
Nathan Vara
Student Ambassador
Jose Cuc-Reyes
Student Ambassador
Angela Herrera-Morales
Student Ambassador
Celina Ocampo
Student Ambassador
National Advisory Board
Consist of local and national leaders who advance the mission of the Carolina Latinx Center through their gifts of time, expertise, financial support, and in connecting the Director of the center to individuals, corporations, foundations, and other initiatives that support the future of the Carolina Latinx Center beyond state resources.
Maribel Carrion
ITS Senior Director, Campus Solutions Applications at UNC
Veronica Mora Flaspoehler President Carolina Alumni
Maria Estorino
Vice Provost for University Libraries and university librarian at UNC
Ron Bilbao
Managing Partner at Converge Public Strategies
Judith Montenegro
Director of Community Organizing for the Latinos in the Deep South Program at the Latino Commission on AIDS
Celina Holson
Chief Operating Officer at HCA Florida JFK North Hospital
Yuliana Rodriguez
Clinical Associate Professor & Senior Honors Thesis Program Director at UNC School of Education
Ricky Hurtado
Program Officer at Z. Smith Reynolds
Sonja Matanovic
Associate Dean for strategic communications for the School of Government at UNC
Kevin Ortiz
Consultant at Bank of America
Juan Castro Jr.
Research Consultant at The Lewin Group
Paul Cuadros
Associate Professor at UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
Contact us
The CLC is actively pursuing partnerships across campus and throughout the community. If you or a group with which you are affiliated would like to get involved, please contact us.
Carolina Latinx Center
Abernethy Hall
131 S Columbia St
Campus Box #3005
Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Monday through Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday
Closed