Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a hugger. It’s not that I’m opposed (okay, perhaps I am), but a quick wave or a hearty handshake is more my style. However, my experiences with the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) over the past decade have caused me to reconsider. Through the years, my interactions with AAHHE have been transformative, and I know that without these rites of passage, I might not be where I am today.

From the moment I entered my doctoral program at University of Texas at Austin, my life was touched by AAHHE. My dissertation chair and collaborator, Dr. Victor Saenz (an AAHHE Faculty Fellow) was a fierce sponsor and advocate for my work. He encouraged me to get involved with AAHHE right from the beginning. As a 2013 AAHHE Graduate Fellow, I connected with other Latinx scholars, built up my scholar identity and felt a deepening sense of Latinidad. As a child of a mother who is white and a father who is Latino, I had struggled to feel a sense of belonging within the Latinx community. This program has opened countless doors for me by connecting me to a wide network of scholars and opportunities.

When I was selected as a 2019 AAHHE Faculty Fellow, I had no idea how the experience would change my life. I went seeking support. And, despite my aversion to hugs, I needed people to wrap their arms around me (literally and figuratively) and tell me that everything was going to be alright. Over the course of the next few days, I was enveloped in an unparalleled solidarity from the faculty fellows and our leaders Drs. Maria Ledesma and Pedro Nava. They showed up for me in a way that I will never forget. As the tears fell and the bonds strengthened, I willingly and without reservation—hugged. I hugged in solidarity, in power and in recognition of my personal investment of my fellow scholars.

In fact, as I reflect, I realize that throughout this scholarly journey, I have been inextricably linked to my AAHHE familia:

• My first paper: written with one of my mentors, Dr. Victor Saenz, an AAHHE Faculty Fellow

• My first faculty grant: written with Drs. Marissa Vasquez and Cristobal Salinas, both faculty fellows

• My first gathering of #ChingonaScholars: done in conjunction with Latina leaders Drs. Elvira Abrica, Courtney Luedke, and Crystal Garcia, all faculty fellows

• My first doctoral graduate: Dr. Joan Jaimes, was a graduate fellow

• My first commissioned paper: was one on Latinx students and STEM identity, co-authored with Dr. Blanca Rincon for the AAHHE annual conference

An honor and privilege, having these experiences allowed me to finally see myself as a Latina scholar and strengthen the bonds that I have today with emerging and established Latinx scholars. If this isn’t having your world transformed by AAHHE, I don’t know what is. Abrazos! •