Latinos Unidos: Creating a Global Family on
Campus

A Professor and Student Help Unite Lynn’s Latino Culture

By Jazmin Springer, Staff Writer

Professor Joanna Sackel and Latinos Unidos President Ariana Casillas Rodríguez share how the club educates others on Latin and Hispanic culture while promoting diversity and inclusivity.

Rodríguez, a Lynn University senior, used to be a shy freshman who spent her time going to class, working and returning home. After realizing she wanted to become more involved in the Lynn community, Rodríguez left her comfort zone and joined what was then called Lynn’s Hispanic Student Union.

Since joining, Rodríguez has become the club’s president, which has now rebranded as Latinos Unidos.

“This is such a multicultural school, and I thought it was unbelievable that there wasn’t a large Hispanic club presence,” said Rodríguez. “When I took over as president in the spring of 2022, we rebranded the club as Latinos Unidos.

While the club focuses on Hispanic and Latin culture and what it means to be part of that ethnic group, it also invites those who are neither Hispanic nor Latino to integrate and become more culturally aware. Sackel, the club’s new advisor, is not Hispanic or Latino but is committed to learning Spanish and enjoys learning about the various cultures involved in the club.

“My favorite thing about Lynn is the international presence,” said Sackel. “This club, to me, is highlighting and allowing them to share their culture with the rest of the university.”

Latinos Unidos is proud of its many accomplishments in fostering cultural unity, promoting diversity and positively impacting Lynn’s campus. The club recently celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with Latin Night, an event featuring cultural foods, piñatas, music, dancing and more. The club’s rebranding and growth has not gone unnoticed by the university community.

Latinos Unidos received the Student Organization of the Year award in May 2022.

“It was pretty cool to go from a club that was dying out that nobody knew existed to winning Student Organization of the Year,” said Rodríguez.

The journey of Latinos Unidos at Lynn illustrates the power of cultural learning and inclusivity. From rebranding to winning Student Organization of the Year, the club has successfully showcased the significant changes that Latin and Hispanic culture have brought to life on campus.