2016 Fellows

We are happy to announce that for the fall 2016 semester we have 6 fellows who will be working on the Humans of New Mexico oral history media project!

The fellowship is a collaboration with the 3 ethnic centers at the University of New Mexico (UNM) – El Centro de la Raza, American Indian Student Services (AISS), and African American Student Services (The Fro). Learn more about our fellows in their bios listed below!

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Biographies 

Sradha Patel 

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My name is Sradha Patel. I have a passion for social justice and reform. I love the idea of communities. Community-building is essential for our society and that is what I want to do. I want to help people help each other. I am young, and I have a long way to go, but I think I have finally figured out how I want to help people. However, I know that I cannot do that without getting to know them. I grew up heavily introverted and college has really helped me explore my inner extrovert. I find myself on a pendulum swinging back and forth, but the more I talk to people here, the more my eyes open and see how lively New Mexico is.

Eric DeLorme 

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My name is Eric DeLorme. My Mother is Mexican-American, and my Father is Acoma, Chippewa and Cree.  I was born and raised in the City of Long Beach, California, and from the Native American Community of Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico. I was raised by my paternal Grandmother, Olivia DeLorme from child to adult.  We moved from the City of Long Beach in 2000 as we inherited my Great-Grandmother Joselitas’ home in Acoma Pueblo.  The transition from city life to rural community was culture shock and learning experience , as “Indian” life is not equivalent to main steam society.  The transition has taught me how to appreciate the land, a gained talent of creating Acoma Pottery, and understanding the difference between red chili or green chili.

Currently, I’m attending the University of New Mexico, majoring in Chicana Chicano Studies with a minor in Communications.  My anticipated Graduation date is Spring 2017, and I will start Law School soon after.  The subject of Indigenous Law, Civil Law, and Immigration Law are my interest, as I want to be the voice.  Being an advocate and protector of Indigenous People utilizing the skills I will attain at Law School will allow me to help Indigenous Nations.  When I have spare time I like to sit down and paint Acoma designs on ceramic Ollas, and water canteens.  Painting black on white pottery is a form of art that most Acoma people have been doing for generations, as you will find pottery shards throughout the Southwest that indicate the long history of art.

Daniel V. Guerrero

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One of my passions is to learn, I love to learn new things every day, and am constantly seeking to satisfy my desire to know what’s out there. My curiosity has led me to the field of engineering, I am currently a Design Engineer at a Solar company and a UNM Student in the civil department seeking a structural engineering degree. I am a proud member of The Light of the World Church, where I also help to mentor and counsel kids and youth from 7-18 years of age. I love what I do and am grateful to have such a strong support system behind me; which is my family and friends.

Rapheal Begay

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Rapheal Begay is an up-and-coming visual artist pursuing his BFA in Art Studio at the University of New Mexico. With a primary focus in Fine Art Photography, he is also committed to Community Development within the UNM Arts Management Program. Thus, you can find him at the Harwood Art Center pursuing his internship with a focus in the organization and implementation of the many known programs. With a dream of opening his very own arts center on the Navajo Nation, he is extremely passionate about creative expression within the individual, as well as the community. For more information, please visit my website.

Diane Andraca

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My name is Diane Andraca. I grew up in San Diego, California. I would sometimes go to L.A to visit family, but my main base starts in Barrio Logan. I’ve came to the University of New Mexico for higher education and hope to prosper in majoring in Cultural Anthropology. That’s not all I want to do, I want to get into Native American Studies, Chicano/a Studies, Nurse Midwife, and women’s counseling. In result, I want to be a teacher to high school students, middle school kids, but mostly everyone. I strive to continue learning and giving individuals the opportunity to keep learning.  I am Mescalero Apache, as well as mexica, my parents are both from Guerrero, Mexico, but they both moved around much to different pueblos and I give them much respect everyday for teaching me great things. For educating me at home and then later integrating me into traditional aztec dance at the age of six. Growing up, my family and I would move around a lot through San Diego, from City Heights, La Mesa, Barrio Logan, and lastly Spring Valley. But most of the time spent was in Chicano Park. The park basically defined me and why I’m doing what I’m doing.  It was kind of a slap in the face when I came to this side of the country. Everything seemed new to me and the teachings of aztec dance were differently up to state. I have been dancing for twelve years, but along with these traditions, I also got involved in the community and conducted youth conferences and organizing events and marches in which had purposes around the community that would benefit the youth later on. I was the only one in my graduating class to decide to go out of state for school and I was the only one who actually had a reconnection with her culture. I’m not a big fan in the way my high school had their school system set up. I am a fighter for school reform, and for not developing classes for students populations whose history isn’t touched upon in depth. 

Alysia Coriz

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Goowatsi. Alysia Coriz medigun ah’eh’seh. Bookawitz goo Coo’thee’run weh’cah’nee ah’eh’seh. Kewa-meh soo’tha. Shru’su’na hana Bookawitz. The University of New Mexico rah su’su mish. 

Hello, my name is Alysia Coriz. I am Native American from Santo Domingo Pueblo. I am from the Fox Clan with my Indian names Bookawitz and Coo’thee’run. I am currently a sophomore at the University of New Mexico double-majoring in Native American Studies and Psychology with a minor in Management. I am a fellow within the Humans of New Mexico project. 

I grew up in Santo Domingo Pueblo, but soon moved with my grandmother and mother to California. Growing up as the 0.01% Native American within my school’s district led me to deeply appreciate my heritage as well as create the motivation to continue to preserve my Grandmother’s and Great-grandmother’s teachings. When I moved back to the pueblo, I was able to have a deeper understanding of what my grandparents taught me and led me to continue my education and preservation of my culture. 

I consider myself as an advocate for Native American rights which led me into the field of Native American Studies at the University of New Mexico (UNM). I hope to utilize both Psychology and Native American Studies to become a greater advocate within the higher education system I am able to promote my advocate work through my passion for poetry. I want the world to know the story of Indigenous peoples through an Indigenous lens.