Erika Edwards recently joined the History Department at the University of Texas at El Paso, but her first dream in life was none other than to be a flower. Dr. Erika D. Edwards is an Associate Professor of Latin American History.

From Florida, with a quick stop in Virginia, this volume of We Are UT El Paso we are joined by Education professor, Ericka Mein; always surrounded by teachers and school-related workers in her family, she has always been interested in teaching, and learning. She developed a special interest in learning about Latin America and had the wish to learn Spanish. This pushed her to volunteer in going abroad on a scholarship to Ecuador where she spent all the time that she was not teaching, learning about the culture and the language.Dr. Mein is currently the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and Educator Preparation.Additional Links:Dean Mein’s Faculty Profile: https://hb2504.utep.edu/Home/Profile?username=elmein2

Dr. Ana Bencomo talks about her upbringing, what got her into changing from a career in engineering to try and pursue her dream of studying literature, and how that affected her present life.Dr. Anadeli Bencomo is the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at El Paso with experience in teaching Language and Linguistics.Additional Links:UTEP names Anadeli Bencomo as Dean for the College of Liberal Arts:https://www.utep.edu/newsfeed/2022/utep-names-bencomo-as-dean-for-college-of-liberal-arts.html

Dena K Jones talks with Keith Pannell about her career and interests in Joaquin Rodrigo’s music. Dena Kay Jones has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Spain, Mexico, and Canada.Additional Links: Professor Jones: https://www.utep.edu/liberalarts/music/people/dena-jones.html

Cherry Duke shares how her on-stage career developed and continues to grow. They discuss their favorite operas and the value of the arts in our community. With a performance career spanning concert, opera, new music, theater, and more, Cherry Duke’s diverse body of work includes creating the Life & Death: Art songs by African American & African Diaspora composers. Currently, Cherry Duke is a principal artist and Artistic Associate with El Paso Opera, a regular soloist with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, and teaches voice and directs the opera program at The University of Texas at El Paso.Additional Links: For Cherry Duke: https://cherryduke.com/For Life & Death: https://cherryduke.com/recital/