We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dra. Christina Rodriguez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dra. Christina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I hope to build a legacy where @LatinaswithMasters continues as a digital sanctuary long after my dissertation is complete. I want to be remembered not for creating content, but for building community—a digital placita where Latina scholars can continue to see themselves reflected and recognized.

Honestly, I don’t see my legacy as only being a personal recognition. To me, it’s about transforming how Latinas experience academia by creating spaces where we can show up authentically without code-switching or hiding our cultural identities. I want future generations to have what I didn’t have during my master’s program: a community that understands both their academic ambitions and cultural realities.

I hope people will remember me as someone who refused to stay silent and wait for institutional validation before creating the spaces we needed. Who now understand that sometimes we must build our own tables rather than fighting for seats at ones that weren’t designed for us to sit at.

Most importantly, I hope my legacy lives in the confidence of every Latina who enters a classroom feeling like she belongs there, who wears her red lipstick and hoop earrings without apology, who speaks her truth sin pelos en la lengua. I want to be remembered for helping break the cycle of isolation for first-generation scholars by creating digital sanctuaries that will nurture Latina voices for generations to come.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Dra. Christina, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Dr. Christina V. Rodriguez, a proud first-generation Nicaragüense from the Bay Area. I’m all about representing my Central American roots in spaces where we’re often invisible. I wear many hats – I’m a wife, mama of 2, dogmom, edu-creator, speaker, podcaster, advocate, entrepreneur, storyteller and scholar who’s passionate about creating real opportunities for Latinas and Women of Color in Business, Housing & Academia.

My educational journey took me from getting my Bachelor’s in Latino/a Studies at SF State to my MBA in Marketing at Notre Dame de Namur, and now I’ve just completed my doctorate in Education from Mills College! My dissertation looked at how I’ve used my NICAdemic Testimonios through @LatinaswithMasters to create digital sanctuaries that document our resistance while creating belonging for Latina scholars like us.

Latinas with Masters was born in July 2020 from a genuine need of Latina representation in graduate school. But it quickly grew into this beautiful comunidad where multi-generational and multi-cultural Latinx folks could truly belong while navigating higher ed. We’re now 30,000+ strong across our platforms on Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin.

And this is just the beginning for Latinas with Masters. What keeps me going every day is the love and support from our community who motivates me to keep on luchando por la causa! Together, we’re changing what academia looks like, creating partnerships with colleges to recruit more Latinas and Women of Color because we know #RepresentationMatters!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is witnessing how @LatinaswithMasters empowers my amigas on this platform to transform their lives whether they’re returning to school after a long break, persevering through a challenging academic program, or launching their own businesses after finding representation that resonates with their journey.

These DMs and comments seriously make all the hard work worth it. When a Latina tells me she was ready to quit her program but found our community and decided to keep pushing, that’s everything! Or when someone shares that seeing another Central American woman with a doctorate made them believe they could do it too, that’s the real magic of this work.

I created this space because I needed it myself, but watching it become a source of inspiration and belonging for thousands of others? That’s a blessing I never expected. Every time someone tags us in their graduation photos or shares how our content got them through a tough semester, I’m reminded why I pour my heart and soul so much into this community. Representation isn’t just about being seen; it’s about creating possibilities and pathways for others coming up behind us.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I connect with my community through real conversations and real experiences. On the Latinas with Masters podcast, we talk about what it’s actually like navigating higher ed as Latinas—the good, the bad, and everything in between. That rawness is what keeps our audience coming back.

When someone rocks our Latinas with Masters merch, it’s more than just a logo, It’s making a statement! I love seeing people connect at conferences and across college campuses because they recognized our Latinas with Masters swag!

I’ve turned down partnerships with brands just looking for a Latina face to market to our audience. Instead, I collaborate with people who value my whole story and don’t expect me to water down my Nicaraguan identity or change how I communicate to fit their idea of professionalism. Being selective about these relationships has actually strengthened the trust with my community.

What really builds loyalty is being present. I personally response to all of the DMs, and create content that speaks to our shared wins and struggles. When someone messages me saying they were inspired to keep pushing through their program because they saw someone like them make it, that’s the connection we strive for!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://latinaswithmasters.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinaswithmasters/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatinaswithMasters
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/latinas-with-masters/?viewAsMember=true
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@latinaswithmasters
• Other: Latinas with Masters Podcast ~ Listen on all podcasting platforms

Image Credits

Latina Presente, Founded by Yvonne Armenta
https://www.chatswithyvonne.com/latinapresente

Puente Motivational Conference hosted at CSU East Bay by The Puente Project
https://www.thepuenteproject.org/