Cynthia Vasquez

​UCSD Graduate Student

Email: 5vazque@ucsd.edu

Cynthia Vázquez is a second-year graduate student in Latin American Studies at UCSD. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2008. In Las Vegas, she was active in community politics and social justice issues and taught a dropout-prevention program targeting Latinas/os through the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension. Her research interests include education, history, borders/frontiers, and ethnic identity among California and Baja California indigenous people.

Project Summary

A high school dropout prevention program is being created to respond to the high pushout rates among the Kumeyaay, specifically working with Campo Reservation. The ten-week program will be delivered in two-hour modules in community centers and school settings. The program will be based on Kumeyaay traditions, cultural values, and heritage, with an emphasis on the historic importance of education then and now. This projects aims to strengthen ethnic identity among Campo youth while connecting them to outside resources needed to successfully navigate the education pipeline. Campo elders, parents, youth, and community partners will be active participants in developing and delivering the program.