Professor, Director, Fellow, University of Arizona
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Jessica Retis is Professor and Director of the School of Journalism, Director of the Bilingual Journalism M.A., and CUES Distinguished Fellow at the University of Arizona. Jessica has two decades of journalism experience in Peru, Mexico, and Spain and has worked as a college educator for more than three decades in the United States, Spain, and Mexico. She has extensively published research findings in her areas of expertise: Latino/a/x/s and the news media in North America, Europe, and Asia; bilingual journalism education; journalism education; Latin American diasporas and transnational communities.
Executive Editor, La Opinión
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Currently serving as Executive Editor for La Opinión in Los Angeles, Armando Varela’s commitment to news spans more than two decades, initially in his native Colombia and later on in the US. As a contributor, reporter, columnist, manager, and editor of major publications and news services, he has devoted his career to keeping audiences informed with accuracy and high journalistic standards. A resident of Southern California for more than 10 years now, his experience serves underrepresented minorities in search of a voice and a better future in this country.
Executive Editor, El Diario
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Carmen Villavicencio is the current Executive Editor of El Diario NY, the oldest Spanish-language daily newspaper in the United States. Under her tenure, El Diario has received several awards from the National Association of Hispanic Publications. Prior to becoming Executive Editor, Carmen served as Managing Editor, coordinating news coverage with editors, reporters, and correspondents. Carmen has also worked for notable Hispanic publications such as Hora Hispana, Noticias del Mundo, Hoy, and El Universo (Ecuador). Carmen lives in Jamaica, Queens, with her two sons.
Associate Professor, Hunter College, City University of New York
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Jillian Báez is an associate professor in the Africana, Puerto Rican, and Latino Studies Department at Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY). She is also an affiliated faculty member at the CUNY Mexican Studies Institute and on the doctoral faculty in Women’s and Gender Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center. Her research expertise lies in Latina/o/x media and popular culture. Her book, In Search of Belonging: Latinas, Media and Citizenship, was awarded the Bonnie Ritter Award from the National Communication Association.
