Rocio Mendez-Rozo, Graduate Fellow
Graduate Fellowship Recipient, 2021
Rocio Mendez-Rozo, earned her BA in English and Latino/a Studies from Northwestern in 2017. She was selected to address her fellow graduates at commencement that year, capping a distinguished undergraduate career. Rocio was selected as a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, pursuing research exploring the roots of salsa and poetry in Nuyorican neighborhoods. Her work was recognized with the Best Senior Thesis Award by the Latino/a Studies Program. Rocio was one of two students selected to participate in the Weinberg College curricular review, and she was active in orientation programs for new students. She served on the New Student and Family Programs Board of Directors and oversaw staff training and curriculum development for 200+ student orientation leaders. Since graduation she has worked as a bilingual copywriter, and has volunteered as a translator at The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights. Her experience at Northwestern has inspired her to pursue a Master’s degree in Higher Education, where she plans to explore educational policy and access to improve the experience of underrepresented students.