MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Hispanic and Latino leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference across the state.
Profiles of these leaders will be published over the course of Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. These are people readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.
Renata Mauriz is the Director of Immigrant Student Support Services at Bunker Hill Community College. (Courtesy Photo)Courtesy Photo
Renata Mauriz
Age: 31
Community: Greater Boston
Her story: Working to support immigrant students at Bunker Hill Community College is a career path that chose Renata Mauriz.
As an undocumented high school student, she said she had to navigate not only challenges with the immigration system but also educational barriers.
“I am truly lucky to be in a position where I can leverage my own power and positionality to enact change and be the educator I wish I had as an undocumented teenager,” Mauriz said.
Knowing the detrimental impact of the immigration system on immigrant communities keeps her committed to the work “for the long run,” she said.
In her role as the director of immigrant student support services at Bunker Hill Community College, she is the point of access and support for all immigrant-origin noncitizen students — especially those who are undocumented, asylum seekers, refugees, have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (also known as DACA), Temporary Protected Status (also known as TPS) or hold other forms of temporary immigration status.
“We know immigrants are not a monolith and understanding who you’re serving and building trust with them is important,” Mauriz said.
Since coming into the role in 2023, Mauriz said she learned that financial barriers are the main challenge immigrant-origin noncitizen students experience while pursuing post-secondary education at Bunker Hill Community College.
She said many students couldn’t apply for federal or state financial aid if they weren’t citizens.
“Systemic barriers call for systemic change, so in the spring and summer of 2023, I directed my energy towards advocating for the Tuition Equity Law alongside my students to ensure they could receive the opportunity to afford a college education, regardless of their immigration status,” Mauriz said.
In July 2023, Massachusetts passed the law, providing certain non-U.S. citizen students, including undocumented students, access to affordable higher education with in-state tuition rates and state financial aid.
“The work has just begun,” Mauriz said.
In her words: “Take your time to truly listen to immigrant students and get to know their complexities. Don’t make assumptions. Understanding students’ identities and lived experiences is crucial for any educator to co-create institutional structures, solutions, programs and policies meant to serve students. Check your biases, and be careful not to come from a deficit approach when working with immigrant students.”
We’re always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
