Isaura Pulido
"Before coming to ºÚ°µ±¬ÁÏÍø, I was ready to leave academia.
But when I came to NEIU, it immediately felt like the place where I could make a meaningful difference. Despite the many challenges facing higher education across the country, our students remind me every day why this work matters—and why we must ensure they have access to an education that affirms their identities, values their voices, and equips them to lead change in their communities.
I love the work I do because, today more than ever, we need individuals who can think critically and act justly in response to the world around them.
Too often, young people are socialized to view the injustices and inequities in our society as natural or inevitable. But when students engage with the educational and social histories of diverse communities across the U.S., they begin to see these outcomes not as destiny, but as the result of specific policies, power structures, and historical choices. They start asking critical questions—about tensions, contradictions, and the shifts in practices that have shaped their lives and communities.
This culturally relevant and justice-centered approach to learning fosters a sense of purpose and possibility. By the end of the semester, my hope is that students feel empowered to challenge the conditions that have marginalized them and to create or expand opportunities—not only for themselves, but for others in their communities.
Education is not just about individual achievement, but about collective progress and the possibility of a more just and equitable future. This ethic of care, purpose, and community responsibility is not only embodied by our students, but it is also a defining feature of our institutional culture."