On Friday, October 10th, the Institute for Latino Studies hosted a faculty panel, "Explore Latino Studies with Faculty from Various Disciplines," as part of its Hispanic Heritage Month programming and the Latino/a Student Union’s Young Scholars Conference at the Hesburgh Center for International Studies. The discussion, presented in partnership with the Kellogg Institute and the Kroc Institute, brought together an interdisciplinary group of scholars to reflect on their academic journeys, teaching philosophies, and the evolving roles of Latino studies within higher education.
The panel included Jason Ruiz, ILS Director; Maryam Parhizkar, Postdoctoral Fellow of ILS; Juan Guillermo Albarracín Dierolf, Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Illinois Chicago; and Ivan Vargas, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Notre Dame. The conversation was both candid and inspiring, offering graduate and undergraduate students insight into the personal and professional paths that shape academic life.
Dr. Ruiz opened the discussion by emphasizing the importance of discernment and self-direction in academia. “You do have to say yes to a lot of things,” he advised. “Decide for yourself what the yes’s are. Say yes to the stuff that will fuel you. Do say no to a lot of stuff. The choice is yours, you decide how it goes.”
Dr. Parhizkar reflected on how passion and advocacy have guided her career, encouraging students to follow what excites them: “Say yes to the things that excite you and move you,” she said, recalling moments when organizing conventions and mentoring have led to meaningful change.
As conversation turned to professional development and the academic job market, panelists offered practical advice grounded in authenticity. Ruiz reminded students to stay true to their values: “If you have to compromise your values, you will be unhappy. No one wants to hire someone who is posing as someone else, and you don’t want to work somewhere where you have to be someone else.”
The event concluded with reflections on ILS’s expanding role on campus and beyond. “The ILS tent is big—very versatile,” said Ruiz. “Every day looks different, but our mission remains the same: to advocate for Latino students and staff and to strengthen our scholarly community.”
The panel closed with an engaging Q&A session and a shared lunch, leaving attendees energized by the exchange of ideas and inspired by the openness of the faculty. The discussion captured the essence of ILS’s mission—to create spaces where collaboration, mentorship, and interdisciplinary dialogue thrive within the Notre Dame community.