El Puente Undergraduate Research Fellows

Alejandro Galindo Sánchez was born in Colombia and has lived in Australia, Colombia, and the United States, experiences that have shaped his multicultural perspective and global challenges. At the University of New Mexico, he balances his academic responsibilities with his work at the Johnson Center as a Guest Specialist and Personal Trainer. In this role, he supports and coaches members of the university community, helping him develop strong leadership, communication, teamwork, and time-management skills. Alejandro’s ultimate goal is to lead and drive innovation within the electric and sustainable mobility industry.

Delisha Lopez is a senior, first generation college student born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her passion for art and exploration of her diasporic identity inspired her to return to school.

Delisha is an active member in the local art community, curating exhibitions intended to educate and encourage viewers to engage in conversation about arts general influence. She is passionate about ensuring artists receive the recognition they deserve and is committed to creating opportunities where they can share their talents.

Delisha’s goal is to pursue her MA in Art History and deepen her connection to art and culture. She is excited about her opportunity with El Puente Research Fellowship, which will provide the mentorship and support to make her goals a reality. 

Elena Dominguez is a third-year, first-generation college student from Moriarty, New Mexico. Elena is passionate about making a difference in her community and serving her community. She is an Intern at Think New Mexico, a results-oriented think tank dedicated to serving New Mexicans. Her passion for making a difference is reflected by her desire to pursue a career in law or in the political sphere. She is a Regent's Scholar at the University of New Mexico and enjoys being involved on campus through organizations such as Pi Lambda Chi Latina Sorority, Inc. and Moot Court. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, and playing music. She is excited about completing research that can lead to making a difference in her community and beyond through El Puente.

Faris Aswad was born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and spent his early childhood in Deming before returning to Las Cruces. The son of Syrian immigrants, he is fluent in both Arabic and English and values the opportunity to bridge cultures through service and communication. Growing up with strong ties to both New Mexico and Syria, regions that have faced significant healthcare challenges, shaped his aspiration to become a physician-scientist dedicated to expanding access to innovative medical care for underserved communities. As a sophomore in the University of New Mexico's Combined BA/MD Program and Honors College, Faris is committed to academic excellence while serving his community. He currently works as a Medical Clinic Aide, serves as a representative for the BA/MD Organization, and previously mentored students as a Junior Counselor for American Legion New Mexico Boys State. Outside of academics, he enjoys playing the violin, piano, and oud, a traditional Syrian instrument, as well as listening to music and playing soccer. Faris hopes to combine scientific discovery with compassionate care to improve the lives of patients in New Mexico and beyond.

Fernando is proud to be a First-Generation college student from Santa Fe, New Mexico and likes to represent his heritage from Chihuahua, Mexico. His family is from Casas Grandes, which is also known as the archeological zone of Paquimé, famous for their multi-story adobe architecture and rich trading history. Academically, Fernando plans on pursing an MBA and a Law degree after earning his BBA. He is excited to participate in El Puente because it is a place where he will learn about research and be able to reach his fullest potential. He finds having the chance to work with his peers, graduate students and faculty mentors exciting because he wants to continue growing professionally and academically. Fernando enjoys giving back and trying to help his community succeed has always been a top priority for him. He pursues this goal through involvement on campus such as being a proud member of the Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Oldest Latino Fraternity in Existence.  

Ivana was born in Lima, Peru and moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico seeking a better educational environment and to get better opportunities in technology. Raised in a household where education was treated as the key to a better future, she is part of the first generation in her family studying abroad.

As a first-generation and international student, she is passionate about making the most of her UNM experience by achieving academic success and being an active member of Pi Lambda Chi Latina Sorority Inc. and the Hispanic Engineering and Science Organization. Through these organizations, she stays connected to her culture while pursuing her passion for STEM and giving back through community service.

Ivana’s objective during El Puente Fellowship is to be able to connect her technical foundation in engineering with her commitment to social impact, through her research journey, to create purposeful work that serves the community.

Kayán is a third-year student at the University of New Mexico, originally from Albuquerque. He fell in love with engineering through hands-on problem-solving, the satisfaction of understanding how something works and then making it better. That curiosity now drives his passion for pursuing education, and his role leading the powertrain team for UNM's Formula SAE electric vehicle project. Kayán is especially energized by the teaching side of engineering; mentoring others and developing their understanding has been some of his most rewarding effort, reflecting his belief that knowledge grows when it's shared. Outside of classes, he enjoys playing guitar, rock climbing, and camping. His family instilled in him the determination to understand anything put in front of him, and he carries their support into every goal he sets. He's excited to make the most of the El Puente Research Fellowship and see how he develops as a lifelong learner.

Kevin Perez is a second-year and first-generation college student at the University of New Mexico. He enjoys spending time with his friends and family as well as listening to music and meeting new people. Kevin’s interest in research first developed when talking to peers and his nursing professor Dr. Melissa Lehan Mackin. Through conversations, Kevin was introduced to the field of nursing scientists. Their focus is on conducting and publishing clinical research which is something Kevin found immediate interest in. He is very excited to be part of El Puente Undergraduate Research Fellows and hopes that this program will help guide him through his journey into research.

Kevin Cruz Martinez is a first-generation college student from Rahway, New Jersey who now resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Being raised in two very different communities, Kevin learned the values of adaptability, resilience, and forming genuine relationships with people. These values, coupled with his bilingual background, are the driving force for his passion in serving diverse communities and lessening healthcare barriers. When not studying, Kevin can be found weightlifting, running, snowboarding, or going outdoors. Kevin is a firm believer that true change and growth start with service, curiosity, and a never-ending desire to learn. Through El Puente, Kevin is excited to develop into both a researcher and a future physician while forming lifelong friendships and connections with like-minded mentors and peers who strive to make an impact on the health and well-being of their communities.

Leticia was born in El Paso, Texas, but was raised in Albuquerque for most of her life. When she isn't in class or working as a teller at Nusenda, she is finding time for her friends and family. She is still making time to be more involved in many activities, such as serving as a UNM Senator and in student clubs, to stay active in her community. Her research interest has stemmed from her family's struggles as immigrants navigating life in the US, which has led her to develop a passion for health care accessibility for immigrants. Additionally, Leticia has a passion for women's rights and education, as well as for political polarization in her generation.

Liane Perez-Pantoja has been driven to question the political institutions and systems that shape our world and has used her time at UNM to pursue those questions. As a junior at UNM, she has completed coursework related to her interests in political science while working as a Student Success Leader (SSL) at El Centro de la Raza and as an undergraduate research assistant in the Department of Sociology. Her involvement with the UNM Debate Team has further strengthened her analytical skills and critical thinking. Through the El Puente Research Fellowship, Liane hopes to continue building on these experiences before applying to Ph.D. programs during her senior year. Originally from Ruidoso, New Mexico, Liane has seen firsthand how borders affect families and communities. She is committed to giving back to her community and contributing through a career in academia that deepens understanding of these issues and informs future approaches in political science.

Lilly is a first-generation college student born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Vietnamese immigrant parents. She is a third-year Business Administration student at the University of New Mexico, concentrating in Finance, with plans in pursuing an MBA. Lilly is passionate about making the most out of her educational experience by expanding her knowledge on topics that raise awareness of community issues. Her long-term goal is to build a career in real estate and housing development, where she can help bridge the gap between housing insecurity and the opportunity for everyone to find a place they can call home. Outside of academics, Lilly enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, doing arts and crafts projects, and staying active by working out and hiking. After hearing about the meaningful experiences of her sorority sisters in this fellowship, she was inspired to apply for the opportunity to build lasting mentorships, strengthen her research skills, and prepare for graduate school.

Lourdes LeDoux, from Nambe, New Mexico, is a second generation Lobo. With inspiration from her parents, Reina and John LeDoux, both UNM alumni, she understands the value of education. Her fathers commitment to education is what motivates Lourdes to pursue academics to honor his life. On campus, Lourdes serves as President of Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Incorporated, Vice President of Growth Strategies for the United Greek Council, and Historian for Mortar Board. She is also a member of Order of Omega and the UNM Honors College. After graduation, Lourdes hopes to continue her education where she can carry on advocating for New Mexico communities and their stories.

Manuel Iturralde grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his curiosity about technology and how people think has shaped many of his academic and personal interests. Outside the classroom, he enjoys learning about emerging technologies, working on hands-on engineering and programming projects, and exploring the intersection of computing and neuroscience. He has experience with robotics, Arduino programming, and 3D printing, and enjoys solving technical problems through collaboration and creativity. Manuel values continuous learning and is always looking for opportunities to expand his skills through research and real-world experiences. Inspired in part by his grandmother's battle with Alzheimer's disease, he hopes to pursue graduate school and contribute to research that combines artificial intelligence with neuroscience to better understand and treat neurological disorders. He enjoys taking on new challenges that push him to think critically, build practical skills, and develop technologies that can make a meaningful impact on people's lives.

Miahuatl was born and raised in Albuquerque New Mexico. Her name means “corn tassel” in the Nahuatl or Aztec language, a reflection of her deep Indigenous roots. She comes from a multilingual family, her father is Pueblo Indian and Chicano and speaks English, Spanish, Nahuatl, and Piro; her mother is from the Indigenous Nahua community in Mexico and grew up speaking Nahuatl as her first language. Miahuatl loves to draw, paint, weave and go hiking. Her family’s history has shaped her educational and career goals. She aspires to become an Environmental Scientist to serve Indigenous communities and help protect their lands, waters, and ecosystems. Language and environment are both vital to cultural survival, and she wants to combine her academic training with her cultural knowledge to address environmental challenges facing Native and Hispanic communities. Through her involvement with El Puente, she looks forward to learning and using her research as a tool for change.

Nixon Reyes Contreras is a first-generation college student and the child of Latin American immigrants who instilled in Nixon the value of hard work and perseverance from an early age. Growing up with limited resources, Nixon learned to navigate challenges creatively including commuting daily to a different high school just to access the math and science courses needed to pursue a STEM path. That determination paid off with Nixon graduating as valedictorian and going on to earn the UNM Woodward Scholarship. At UNM, Nixon has remained active in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, mentoring and supporting other first-generation and Hispanic students. Driven by curiosity about how systems work and a desire to make meaningful improvements, Nixon approaches every opportunity as a chance to grow technically and personally. Through this fellowship, Nixon hopes to deepen his understanding of real-world engineering practice while continuing to bring lessons learned back to his community.

Rafael Luna is a second-year student at the University of New Mexico. Born and raised in a Hispanic household in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he is passionate about learning new ways to make a positive impact on his community and in creating meaningful change through collaboration and service with fellow peers. He believes in the importance of helping others while continuously learning from new experiences. Outside the classroom, Rafael enjoys traveling, exploring new places, staying active, and spending time with friends and family. He values building meaningful connections with others and welcomes opportunities that broaden his perspective and challenge him to grow. Through El Puente, Rafael hopes to contribute to projects that will create lasting benefits for communities. This year, he looks forward to strengthening his research skills, learning new ways to collaborate with faculty, alumni, and gaining experiences that will help him grow both academically and professionally.

Sebastian was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with his two siblings and his mom. His family is from Durango and Chihuahua, Mexico, and has always prioritized his education. His mom always said, “Knowledge is the one thing no one can take from you.” His love of science throughout high school really pushed him to pursue medicine as a career path. In addition, watching movies, TV shows, and drawing were always a creative release, allowing him to see himself as a director. Currently, he is pursuing a dual degree in Biochemistry and Film Production, meant to expand on his interests and create more opportunities. As a Latino, he has always found it hard to escape the usual stereotypes. He continues to pursue his education to hopefully create a difference in his community and be a role model for those who believe a future for themselves is impossible.