Vanessa Rico

• Contributed to an innovative, interdisciplinary curriculum developed by UCSB faculty to promote educational justice for racially, linguistically, and socioeconomically minoritized K-16 students.
• Supported efforts to address systemic inequities in higher education by leveraging students' linguistic and cultural expertise to further their academic goals.
• Collaborated on the creation and implementation of a 20-week curriculum on language and social justice, tailored to the unique needs of each classroom.
• Engaged in high-level academic discussions, hands-on research, and activism projects focused on language, power, and identity.
• Provided intensive academic mentorship, supporting students' original research and activism projects in their communities.

• Serve as a Research Assistant in the Foundations of Learning and Knowledge (FOLK) Lab within UCSB's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Contribute to research examining how children develop engagement and happiness in early childhood education settings, focusing on cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Assist in multi-phase research involving classroom observations, structured interactions with children, and data collection through educator surveys. Help investigate how caregiver-teacher interactions and teaching approaches impact children's social and cognitive development, providing valuable insights for scientists, parents, and educators.

• Serve as a paid interpreter for bilingual Spanish-speaking families during parent-teacher conferences at local elementary schools.
• Facilitate communication between non-English-speaking parents/guardians and teachers, enabling meaningful engagement in their children's education.
• Apply academic and language-brokering skills in a real-world setting, collaborating with community members, teachers, and school administrators.
• Receive specialized training from UCSB Professors Aline Ferreira and Viola Miglio on family-based issues, common conference vocabulary, and confidentiality.
• Contribute to fostering stronger connections between families and educators, supporting a more inclusive learning environment for students.

Help the company increase its brand value by representing the brand to audiences. Typical job duties of a Cashier are attending industry events, creating a specific image, generating sales opportunities, and promoting products and services to potential customers.

• Established strong relationships with key clients, fostering long-term partnerships and repeat business.
• Devised creative incentive programs to motivate team members toward achieving individual and collective goals.
• Mentored junior representatives, cultivating a positive work environment conducive to professional development.
• Spearheaded promotional events to attract new customers and generate interest in the brand.
• Resolved escalated customer issues promptly, demonstrating commitment to superior service quality while preserving company reputation.