Team Work Makes the Dream Work

Ariana C. Allen

Founder, Editor-in-Chief

Ariana Allen, Founder of Educated Latina, graduated with her B.A. in Women’s Studies from Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles in 2008.

In the Summer of 2017, Ariana was featured in BeVisible’s Top 10 Latinx Founders in Online Media You Need to Know. She also presents Educated Latina’s How To Make College Work For You workshops for High School Juniors and Seniors.

A New York native and proud Dominiriqueña (Dominican/Puerto Rican), she currently lives in Inglewood with her awesome husband, Michael. When she isn’t working on EDL, Ariana is either watching her favorite TV shows or reading mysteries. She is passionate about traveling, cruising in particular, and is a self-proclaimed Francophile.

Dr. Sylvia Landaverde

Ask Dr. Syl Columnist

Sylvia, also known as Dr. Syl, is a first-generation college student with a B.A. in sociology with a minor in women’s studies from California State University, Long Beach, an M.P.A. from Cal State Dominguez Hills, and her Ed.D in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California.

Dr. Syl lives with her fiancee and two-year-old son and enjoys travel, volunteer work and spending time with her family.

Genesis Montalvo

EDL Staff Writer

Genesis is a proud first-generation Mexican-American and college student currently working towards her Master’s at San Francisco State University. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University in the spring of 2016 before packing up her car to move to the City by the Bay.

Grateful for her amazing experience with faculty and staff at LMU, Montalvo hopes to teach at the university level to help guide first-generation college students through the complex institution of college. When she isn’t at school or working, she enjoys spending her time running, writing, and binge-watching shows on Netflix.

Yelena Bivian

EDL Staff Writer

Yelena, most commonly known as Yeli is a proud first-generation Mexican-American student currently enrolled at the University of Redlands as a junior. Her bilingual upbringing motivated her to pursue a double major in English Literature and Spanish as well as a minor in Philosophy. Influenced by her community, Yelena aspires to go into publishing and pursue writing.

When she isn’t drowning in essays or partaking in philosophical debates, she enjoys reading, listening to music too loud for her ears, running and working out.