Brenda Borges is a Brazilian researcher with a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and Languages from the University of Porto, where she specialized in French and Spanish. She recently completed her Master's in Latin American Studies at the University of Arizona, with a thesis focusing on reproductive rights movements in Argentina. Her research interests include gender and sexuality studies, social movements, and the role of emotions in political mobilization. 

Brenda has served as a Spanish and Portuguese Teaching Assistant at the University of Arizona, where she deepened her commitment to intercultural and interdisciplinary education. She has worked in a variety of academic and professional settings, including Global Ties KC, Fundação da Juventude, and youth-led civic engagement projects. These roles have strengthened her communication, mentoring, and organizational skills. 

Brenda is fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. She is passionate about bridging academic research and social justice, and her work aims to critically engage with power structures and advocate for more equitable and inclusive societies across the Americas. 

Ana Marie Luyanda, originally from Miami, Florida, is a master’s student in Latin American Studies at Tulane University. She earned her B.A. in History and Museum Studies from Florida State University, where her award-winning senior research examined Spanish perspectives on Aztec water management in Tenochtitlan.  

Her research focuses on Indigenous Latin America, particularly the relationship between societies and their environments, and the lasting impacts of colonialism. With professional experience in museums and public history, Ana is committed to bridging academic research with public engagement through museums and cultural institutions. 

Mexican-born and New Orleanian-raised, Yasmin holds a Bachelor's in Latin American Studies and Sociology from Tulane University. Her research and interests focus on migration and human movement throughout time. Through her work, she aims to highlight humanized narratives of migrants and their experiences.  

Vice-President of the board for a local non-profit organization, ALAS. Yasmin has continued to serve her community and New Orleans youth through summer programming and personal and professional advancement for all. 

Nyasha Franklin is an international educator and a first-year MA student from Harlem, New York. Her current research interests include cultural tourism, black entrepreneurship, and culture turned capital in Colombia’s Pacific Region. Nyasha is committed to joining the efforts of educators and scholars whose work seeks to amplify the history, culture and struggles of Black communities across the African Diaspora.  

Outside of the classroom she leads educational travel experiences in Colombia with World 2 the Whyze, a travel and education company helping travelers turn their fascinations into expeditions and use their curiosity to seek wisdom in every corner of the globe.