2019 - 2020 Editors
Jennyfer A. Rodriguez was born and raised in Guatemala. She will be graduating this Spring 2020 with a B.A. in Central American and Transborder Studies and a Minor in Spanish Linguistics. For her, working as an editor at La Ceiba means celebrating the vast cultural and creative diversity of the Central American students, their creative work and their research.
Jennyfer’s commitment to transborder solidarity led her to co-found a grassroots community collective of diverse Guatemalan women, GuateMaya L.A. Mujeres en Resistencia. Jennyfer works in collaboration with other Central American activists and organizers, and allies to form social-justice oriented coalitions that bring theory and praxis together.
When Jennyfer is not indulging in writing or reading, she enjoys calling her abuelita in Guatemala or taking care of her plants as a form of therapy.
Jennyfer’s commitment to transborder solidarity led her to co-found a grassroots community collective of diverse Guatemalan women, GuateMaya L.A. Mujeres en Resistencia. Jennyfer works in collaboration with other Central American activists and organizers, and allies to form social-justice oriented coalitions that bring theory and praxis together.
When Jennyfer is not indulging in writing or reading, she enjoys calling her abuelita in Guatemala or taking care of her plants as a form of therapy.
Jennyfer A. Rodriguez
Yoselin de leon
Yoselin De Leon-Lazo was born and raised in Echo Park, California. She is currently enrolled at CSUN as an Early Childhood and Adolescent Development and Central American Studies major. Her passion for learning about her culture and history stems from classes she began to take at SALEF in High School. Being the daughter of Salvadoran and Guatemalan immigrants, Yoselin is inspired by the stories of migrants and one day hopes to become a psychologist for immigrant youth.When she is not working at La Ceiba, she enjoys the time she spends with her family and reading whatever books she can get her hands on
Amanda tzoc rodriguez
Amanda Tzoc Rodriguez was born in Los Angeles and raised in San Gabriel, California. She is a Spring 2020 graduate from California State University, Northridge majoring in Central American Studies and Journalism with an emphasis in Public Relations. She aspires to help her Central American community working with organizations as a Public Relations specialist. She took interest in learning more about her culture through her first Central American Studies course as a freshman and went on to majoring in it wanting to learn more and a way to help her community thrive. Being an editor for La Ceiba has allowed her to share her peers' voices and research about Central America to the public and gave her insight on the importance of highlighting Central American identities. In her free time, she likes to hangout with friends, play her Nintendo Switch, and go to concerts.
Kelvin Villalta
Born in Tarzana, California, Kelvin Villalta is of Guatemalan and Salvadoran descent. He will be graduating spring 2020 with a B. A. in Central American Studies and Creative Writing. Kelvin has been with La Ceiba since 2017. Beginning with a passion to learn as a volunteer, Kelvin's devotion to the journal led him to become an editor. As an editor of La Ceiba handling, the various works of his contemporaries has been a privilege and an honor.
With publications in Bien Acompañada Press and C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D Multimedia Student Research Journal, Kelvin will continue his passion of writing. He has read his poetry for UNICA’s (Union Centroamericana) first and second annual Central American Counterspaces, GuateMaya’s La’s Jornadas de la memoria: Luis de Lion, CAUSA’s first and second annual (Central American Union Student Association) Indegeridoo: Indigenous Peoples Celebration, and the Department of Africana Studies’ Lifting Black Voices: A Spoken Word Journey with Rudy Francisco, and the Northridge Creative Writing Circle Poetry Reading and Open Mic. Kelvin has been on panels at California State University of Los Angeles for Encuentro 25 Years of Zapatismo and at California State University of Northridge for The Imaginaries of The Future.
Kelvin will continue his contribution to the Central American diaspora with his works of art and by continuing his education through graduate school in hopes to one day become a professor and author.
With publications in Bien Acompañada Press and C.A.P.T.U.R.E.D Multimedia Student Research Journal, Kelvin will continue his passion of writing. He has read his poetry for UNICA’s (Union Centroamericana) first and second annual Central American Counterspaces, GuateMaya’s La’s Jornadas de la memoria: Luis de Lion, CAUSA’s first and second annual (Central American Union Student Association) Indegeridoo: Indigenous Peoples Celebration, and the Department of Africana Studies’ Lifting Black Voices: A Spoken Word Journey with Rudy Francisco, and the Northridge Creative Writing Circle Poetry Reading and Open Mic. Kelvin has been on panels at California State University of Los Angeles for Encuentro 25 Years of Zapatismo and at California State University of Northridge for The Imaginaries of The Future.
Kelvin will continue his contribution to the Central American diaspora with his works of art and by continuing his education through graduate school in hopes to one day become a professor and author.
2018 - 2019 Editors
Gorethy Soto
Gorethy Soto is a CSUN student majoring in Psychology and Central American Studies. She is an editor at La Ceiba, specializing in Central American research and history.
Kelvin Villalta
Kelvin Villalta is Central American and does editing at La Ceiba: The Undergraduate Journal of Central American Studies. Kelvin is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in English: Creative Writing and Central American Studies. He lives in Boyle Heights, California and he enjoys writing poetry, short stories, lyrics, and singing. His favorite bands are Mountain, Pink Floyd, Alux Nahual, Tool, Toxik, and Jason Becker. He also draws inspiration from Edgar Allen Poe, Aldus Huxley, Miguel Angel Asturias, and Miguel Angel Asturias.
2017 - 2018 Editors
Stacey Arévalo
Stacey Arévalo is a Guatemalan-American, bilingual journalist, pursuing a B.A. in journalism and Central American Studies with a minor in Spanish Language journalism.
When she’s not proofreading essays for La Ceiba, she is translating articles for CSUN’s Athletics department or for a family-owned community paper in Boyle Heights.
She also shoots, edits, designs, tweets and drinks lots of coffee. Her work has been featured with La Opinión, EGP News, New America Media, The Odyssey, The Sundial and The Roundup News.
When she’s not proofreading essays for La Ceiba, she is translating articles for CSUN’s Athletics department or for a family-owned community paper in Boyle Heights.
She also shoots, edits, designs, tweets and drinks lots of coffee. Her work has been featured with La Opinión, EGP News, New America Media, The Odyssey, The Sundial and The Roundup News.
Samantha martin
Samantha Martin is an editor who works with undergraduate students to help publish original research for La Ceiba: The Undergraduate Journal of Central American Studies. Samantha is in her junior year at CSUN majoring in Central American Studies and minoring in Spanish Language and Culture.
She is inspired by immigrants who have made rigorous journeys to get through rough terrain and over the Mexican border. In her spare time, she loves to read books about the border.
Samantha is passionate about human experiences and speaking out for those who cannot speak out for themselves.
She is inspired by immigrants who have made rigorous journeys to get through rough terrain and over the Mexican border. In her spare time, she loves to read books about the border.
Samantha is passionate about human experiences and speaking out for those who cannot speak out for themselves.
Kelvin Villalta
Kelvin Villalta is Central American and is an editor at La Ceiba: The Undergraduate Journal of Central American Studies. Kelvin is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in English creative writing and Central American studies.
He lives in Boyle Heights, California, and he enjoys singing and writing poetry, short stories, and lyrics. His favorite bands are Mountain, Pink Floyd, Alux Nahual, Tool, Toxik, and Jason Becker.
He also draws inspiration from Edgar Allen Poe, Aldus Huxley, and Miguel Angel Asturias.
He lives in Boyle Heights, California, and he enjoys singing and writing poetry, short stories, and lyrics. His favorite bands are Mountain, Pink Floyd, Alux Nahual, Tool, Toxik, and Jason Becker.
He also draws inspiration from Edgar Allen Poe, Aldus Huxley, and Miguel Angel Asturias.
Maria macias
Maria Macias is a CSUN student majoring in English Subject Matter. She is an editor at La Ceiba, specializing in Central American research and history.
Creative Director
Susana Marcelo
Susana Marcelo teaches at Los Angeles Valley College and Cal State Northridge. She is the Writing Coordinator for Central American and Transborder Studies and is a faculty member in the EOP Commuter Bridge Program. She is also the creative director of La Ceiba: The Undergraduate Journal of Central American Studies. She has been published in The Wandering Song: Central American Writing in the United States (Tia Chucha, 2017), Virginia Quarterly, In-flight Literary Magazine, and the Northridge Review.