Immigration Specialist I

Office: Pav 110
Phone: 979-845-1824
Contact: dmr23@tamu.edu

Pronouns:
She/ Her/ Hers

Duties and Functions:
Supports international students and their dependents through the processing of immigration documents and the delivery of immigration advising.
Serves as Designated School Official (DSO) for F Program
Serves as Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) for J Program

Education:
Master of Arts in Communication & Journalism from the University of New Mexico - Thesis: 'Coloniality and the paradoxes of migrancy: Experiences of Nicaraguan migrants in Costa Rica'
Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with minors in Communication and Hispanic Studies for Community Engagement from Texas A&M University.
Study Abroad: La Universidad de Salamanca and at La Universidad de Granada - Centro de Lenguas Modernas 

Countries I have visited:
Through multiple exchange programs and visiting friends, she has traveled to 31 countries outside of the U.S., some countries more than once (Costa Rica, Morocco, Spain, Germany, India, Canada). These include:

• South America: Argentina, Chile
• Central America: Costa Rica, Guatemala
• Europe: Spain, Denmark, U.K., Scotland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic
• Africa: Morocco
• Asia: Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Singapore, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey 
• Australia
• North America: Mexico and Canada 
• Middle East: Qatar

Short Bio:
She has spent the majority of her life chasing her dream to become bilingual; today she can confidently say she has achieved Spanish fluency (though it is not 100% without error!). This pursuit led her to multiple adventures in many Spanish-speaking countries, meeting all kinds of people. From her personal experiences living abroad, she could better relate to international students in Albuquerque, NM as they entered and adjusted to the U.S., most of whom have become her life-long friends. Listening to their immigration stories excited her to become equipped to help them on a deeper level, which working at ISSS is a first step toward this dream. Before working at ISSS, she toured Asia, visiting over 10 countries in 5 months to better understand the cultures where most of her international student friends are from. She is an advocate for migrants and has collaborated with various immigration organizations domestically and internationally. One of her favorite roles was serving as an Asylum Pro Se volunteer.