The 2017 American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) National Conference in Irvine, California, came at a time when I needed it the most. I had just experienced the grueling process of being on the faculty job market. This process included many aspects, but the one that stuck with me the most was seeing firsthand the lack of Latina/o faculty and administrators across the majority of U.S. institutions where I applied. I also came away from this process with many questions about entering academia.

Some of these questions included:

• What should I negotiate for in my contract?

• How do I maintain a work-life balance while pursuing tenure?

• Should I take a position that is away from my family?

However, being selected to participate in the AAHHE Graduate Fellows Program that spring helped me with this process. Mainly, because this is a program created to support emerging Latina/o scholars in higher education. To do so, the program is designed in a way that helps address the specific needs of Latina/o scholars. The program also incorporates and celebrates our Latina/o identity and culture.

As Latinas/os, comunidad is a central part of our culture. Therefore, the AAHHE program facilitates networking and encourages the development of relationships between Latina/o scholars. For example, I was able to make connections with each member of my AAHHE Graduate Fellows cohort, who represented various backgrounds, fields and institutions throughout the U.S. Because each fellow had a rich set of teaching, research and leadership experiences, we were able to learn extensively from one other. We also developed lifelong friendships. I connected with Latina/o faculty who offered me encouragement and insight about transitioning into the professoriate. In particular, I am grateful for the mentorship that I received from my AAHHE Faculty Fellow mentor, Tony Estudillo, and from Desiree Zerquera, also an AAHHE Faculty Fellow.

The program provided participants with opportunities to engage in discussions that centered on issues pertinent to Latinas/os. This included discussing research and policy that challenged us to think critically about how we can create change for Latinas/os in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. We participated in platicas where we shared best practices for navigating the faculty ranks while maintaining familia and relationships with Latina/o communities. As an emerging Latina scholar, this part of the program was very beneficial to me because it helped address some of the questions that I was struggling to answer.

Attending the AAHHE National Conference as a Graduate Fellow helped me gain new skills, knowledge and relationships. In fact, it was this experience that solidified my purpose and gave me the confidence I needed to accept a position as an assistant professor. Now, as I enter the professoriate, I look forward to using the tools that AAHHE has given me to achieve my future goals of becoming a tenured faculty member. More importantly, I know that my AAHHE familia will be there to support me along the way. •