Para empezar, le debo a la gente y comunidad de WHA gracias para el apoyo y confianza que me han dado sobre estos años. Con un gran abrazo desde el corazón, gracias.

In 2022, I began my Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. I was unsure what to expect, what to research, or how my community engagement museum experience would translate to academia. It was a risk, but the journey paid off with fellowships, scholarships, and opportunities to present on past and developing research in history, interpretation, and my constantly developing love and passion for digital humanities.

My WHA Conference History:

The first WHA Conference I attended was in San Antonio in 2022 when I was invited to chair the panel titled Challenging Erasure: Exploring Community Pathways to Collecting, Preserving, and Sharing Black Texas History, featuring presenters Claudia Espinosa, Pamela Nicole Walker, Teresa Van Hoy, and Roseann Bacha-Garza. I’d be remiss not to thank María Esther Hammack for initially recommending me to chair. As I learned more about WHA, I saw an opportunity to serve on the Grad Staff, which included benefits like a room stay and, what is as good as gold to a student, meal tickets. Moreover, serving with the Grad Staff gave me an incredible support network of inspiring researchers at what can sometimes be an overwhelming conference. Where do I go first? How do these elevators work? Have I eaten? All these questions are relinquished when you are on the WHA Grad Staff.

I was immediately astounded by the diversity of presenters, panel topics, and attendees at the WHA Conference. Plus, the intention and accountability with which the WHA addresses its organizational history on the website impressed me greatly. That conference week in San Antonio was unforgettable. It felt like all the stars of history were there, and my conference experience made the researchers and writers of many historical works and projects that I admired real and tangible. Realizing that I, too, was a peer and colleague with professional historians, instilled confidence in me and further inspired my work, studies, and community. I was hooked on the WHA Conference.

My second WHA in Los Angeles was also astonishing. I was privileged to participate in the Teaching Local History “Across Many Wests”: A Roundtable Conversation with Patricia Loughlin, Jessica Barbata Jackson, Sarah R. Payne, Benjamin Kiser, Todd Laugen, Cristina Rodriguez, and Jennifer O’Neal. Including K-12 history topics for the awareness of our profession is necessary for the future of our places because we never know what young people will become after they leave the classroom or museum. I returned to serving with the Grad Staff and attended the Graduate Student Research Workshop. The research workshop is yet another way that the WHA supports students in our research at and beyond the conference.

Graduate Student Prize: Kansas 2024:

Receiving the Graduate Student Prize in 2024 helped me immensely. I am forever grateful to the WHA and the donors who continue to make opportunities like this available to students. Getting support for stay, travel, and food allowed me to attend many more sessions and meet even more outstanding professionals. The concurrent scheduling with the SHA and stay in Kansas City were all expertly planned.

The 2024 conference week was a whirlwind for me since immediately after, I traveled to attend the PastForward conference held by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It was another week of history and connections that only the WHA can provide. Kansas City was the first WHA Conference where I did not work on the Graduate Staff. Regardless, the staff embraced and welcomed me as if I were. I am deeply grateful to my colleagues, peers, allies, and friends I have connected with through the WHA Grad Staff.

The sessions I participated in included the Digital Scholarship Lightning Round chaired by Sean Fraga with presenters Adam Sundberg, Dave Tell, Siriana Lundgren, David Grua, Haleigh Marcello, Johnathan Daniel Laska, and Gregory Payne. I also presented on the Practicing Digital Heritage on Contested Grounds panel with Christy Hyman, Amparo Chavez-Gonzalez, Linda Garcia Merchant, and Shine Trabucco. After our session, Linda and Shine invited me to present a graduate student keynote as part of the Digital Humanities at the University of Houston 2025 event series. I excitedly accepted and am now reflecting on how many of my professional long-term relationships would not have been possible without the networking and support provided by the hard work of the WHA staff, board, and committees.

Conclusion:

My journey with the WHA, from tentative beginnings to impactful presentations and invaluable connections, underscores the profound power of community. From the initial feelings of belonging to the incredible opportunities for growth and recognition, the WHA has played a pivotal role in shaping my academic and professional trajectory. Thank you for these opportunities and for reminding everyone that at the heart of any field of study are the people and connections we forge that truly make it meaningful. I look forward to staying connected with WHA forever.

In closing, if you have received a tlacuache/possum/zarigueya sticker in the past three years of WHA conferences, it was my way of representing the Rio Grande Valley. If you have one saved on your laptop, water bottle, or bicycle, think of me and the RGV.