Latinx Student Services

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Services and Programs
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Family and Parent Services
Meet Our Staff
LSS Resource Hub
Schedule an Appointment

About

Latinx Student Services (LSS) provides programs and resources that empower Latinx scholars at Augsburg University to thrive in higher education, develop and strengthen their self-advocacy and leadership skills, and contribute to advancing our larger Latinx community. Most importantly, LSS seeks to be an inclusive place where students feel a sense of belonging, community, and pride in their self-identified identities, affinities, and culture.

HISTORY

Latinx Student Services, formerly known as “Hispanic/Latino Student Services Program,” was established in January of 1993 to support a majority international and second generation of Latin@ students. Alumnus and community leader Eloisa Echavez founded and was the program’s first director. The program rebranded in 2017 under “Latinx Student Services” to recognize the changing demographics and needs of current Latinx students at Augsburg University. Currently, there are nearly 500 Augsburg Day students who self-identified as Latinx. Our students represent a diversity of identities, cultural and national backgrounds, individual and community experiences, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, class, and immigration statuses.

MISSION

The Department of Multicultural Life strives to be a national leader in multicultural student success and social justice education within higher education. Through collaboration with key departments, offices, and individuals, the development and implementation of cultural—and social-critical educational programming, and the focused mentoring and support of historically underrepresented student populations, the department works to co-create a university environment that allows all members to fully engage in the entirety of their collegiate experience.

VISION

When students have a greater understanding of self, they become empowered to reclaim* ownership of their education. Multicultural Life provides opportunities to deepen awareness and knowledge of identity, resilience, and advocacy.

Education in the U.S. is rooted in a white supremacist foundation; as such, our department is dedicated to working alongside underserved students in our shared work to ensure multiple identities and backgrounds are more fully present in the collegiate experience at Augsburg University.

Meet the LSS Team

Erika Hernández-Latinx Student Services Program Manager

Pronouns: She/Her/ Ella
Department Email: latinx@augsburg.edu
Direct Email: hernaner@augsburg.edu
Direct Line: 612-330-1309
Español: 612-330-1459
Linkedin

Attaining a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in Chicane and Latine Studies and Racial Justice in Urban Schooling, Erika Hernández is a Xicana community organizer, educator, and proud daughter of Mexican immigrant parents. Hernandez began her career in community engagement as a student leader at Minneapolis College, then as a youth worker for local non-profit Centro Tyrone Guzman, where she gained experience in curriculum development, facilitation, and family engagement. Today, she continues to play an essential role in advocating for systems change for the Latine, Immigrant, Queer, and BIPOC communities in Minnesota. Driven by social justice and liberatory education, Hernández aims to create intentional, creative, and liberatory spaces where our students of color can share their stories to radically imagine different worlds. Her years of experience include culturally sustaining pedagogy, restorative justice, youth program development, artivism, policy work, and grassroots organizing. In June of 2022, she joined our team at Augsburg!