Meet the Staff
La Casa Cultural Latina Staff
Adele Lozano Director and Assistant Dean of Students
Adele brings a long history of involvement with Latina/o cultural centers in the Midwest. As a first-generation college student she gained early leadership skills and learned the importance of student activism at a Latino cultural center. These early experiences convinced her of the important role cultural centers play at universities in the Midwest. She received an M.A. in student affairs from the University of Northern Iowa and is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Higher Education at UI. Adele’s research interests include the impact of Latino cultural centers on Latina/o student development. Adele currently serves on the board of directors of the Illinois Latino Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) and the University of Illinois YWCA. She is originally from southeast Iowa where her grandparents migrated from Mexico. Adele has a son and a daughter who have both recently completed college degrees. She enjoys biking and completed RAGBRAI in the summer of 2007.
Veronica Kann Assistant Director
As Assistant Director, Veronica Kann is especially interested in the retention and academic success of Latina/o students and the roles of families, peers, faculty, and alumni in those efforts. Trained as an anthropologist with several investigative projects in Mexico and Illinois, Ronnie’s research interests include the construction of race and ethnicity in the United States and within institutional settings; the space and place of citizenship; and the intersections of the nation-state, cultures of terror, and human rights and resistance.
Jennifer DeLuna Program Coordinator
Jennifer joined La Casa in November 2007. She is a 2004 Loyola University Chicago graduate where she received her B.A. in Communications. She is also a 2007 Graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a M.A. in Arts, Entertainment and Media Management. Prior to joining La Casa Jennifer worked for Radio Disney AM1300 as a Promotions Associate and was a Graduate Assistant to the Office of the President at Columbia College Chicago. Jennifer brings years of experience in programming cultural, educational, and social events. Her professional interests include Latina/o youth outreach, Latina/o in the Arts and Latina/o immigration issues. Jennifer grew up in a northwest suburb of Chicago and is of Mexican and Italian decent.
Maria Conrad Staff Secretary
Maria has a degree in Mass Communication from Silliman University in the Philippines and moved to the US in April 2003. At La Casa, Maria assists students and staff in the operations, activities and events. Maria likes animals, especially dogs and cats, enjoys traveling and hiking, and loves to cook and garden. In her spare time she likes to read, watch comedy shows and listen to music.
Student Staff
Shantel Martinez is a graduate student in the Department of Educational Policy Studies. Her work focuses on the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality and its effects on youth and popular culture. Shantel graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle and is a recent transplant to the Midwest. Her personal motto is:
"There is light in darkness, you just have to find it."—bell hooks
Jonathan Brito is a sophomore in the Division of General Studies with plans to minor in Latina/Latino Studies and work toward an MBA. During his first year at Illinois, he worked with La Casa's Latino Youth Conference and Admission’s Peer Recruitment Program, His hobbies are skateboarding and weight training. Jonathan was born on Chicago’s south side and was raised in both Yucatán, México, and Chicago.
Daissy Dominguez is senior in Political Science, Pre-law, with a strong interest in Psychology. She is interested in cultural programming and issues of retention. Aside from working at La Casa, she is a Counseling Center Paraprofessional and Member of Alpha Psi Lambda Fraternity, Inc. This summer she traveled to Europe to study International Relations.
"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim.
Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself."
Cynthia Ledesma is majoring in political science and Latina/Latino Studies. She hails from Chicago and is an active member of M.E.Ch.A and La Colectiva. She serves as La Casa’s Community Outreach Coordinator and is very passionate about serving the community. Cynthia coordinates the Proyecto Che Saturday Program and other community outreach initiatives.
"The important thing is this: to be able at any given moment to sacrifice that which we are for that which we could become."- Charles Du Bois
Angelica Moreno is a sophomore currently studying History as her major and Secondary Education as her minor. Most people confuse her for her older sister Deanna, so if she looks like a familiar face at La Casa, it’s probably because they look so much alike. She loves the beach and shopping and is always on the phone or listening to music. Country is on her most recently played lists, all of it, and any of it. She was born in Chicago, but mostly raised in Berwyn, a suburb right outside of Chicago.
Joe J. Palencia is a senior majoring in Latino/a Studies with a minor in Business from the city of Chicago (Pilsen), and is an active member of Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. He serves as a programmer at La Casa. He enjoys listening to music and cooking. Joe is very passionate about helping others and making a difference in people's lives.
"The real leader displays his quality in his triumphs over adversity, however great it may be." - George C. Marshall
"People can be divided into three groups- those that make things happen; those that let things happen; and those that wonder what happend." -Unknown
Laura Roman is 19 years old and was born and raised in the city of Chicago. She is currently a sophomore at the UIUC in the Division of General Studies(DGS). She enjoys swimming, rollerblading, and watching movies; during her spare time she likes to sit ont the quad or in a quiet place and read a good book or magazine. She likes listening to all kinds of music and dancing to Latin music. She and her family visit Mexico frequently; one of her goals is to visit other countries. She is an optimistic person and truly believes that anything is possible.
"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." Albert Einstein
**Rachel Samaniego is an Art Education major. She is La Casa's Graphic Designer. Chances are if you see a flier for a La Casa event, Rachel made it. When she is not working at La Casa or attending events, she is working at Allen Hall's desk as a Desk Clerk or volunteering at Leal Elementary. Rachel is very passionate about her art and hopes to teach in the Chicago Public Schools.
"I got an idea, an idea so smart my head would explode if I even began to know what I was talking about."-Peter Griffin
What Students are Saying