News

Art, Identity, and the Transformative Power of Latin American and Latino Studies

Photo Courtesy of Garey A. Gordon

October 29, 2026

Interview By Rosalia Moronta

Marisol Diaz Gordon’s journey through art, photography, and teaching reflects the transformative power of education and the importance of finding a community that encourages personal and professional growth. Through her connection with the Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS) Department at Lehman College, Diaz has developed her artistic practice while exploring the relationships between culture, identity, representation, and education. Her experiences as a student and teacher have shaped her commitment to creating opportunities for dialogue and helping students recognize the value of their own perspectives.

Diaz is a graduate of Lehman College’s Masters Program in Fine Arts, and her academic and professional journey has included studying at Queens College and teaching at City College before returning to the Lehman College community. Her decision to continue learning was influenced by her desire to explore creative approaches that connected with her personal experiences. She described the importance of pursuing opportunities that allowed her to combine her academic interests with her artistic instincts, particularly through hands-on creative work and visual storytelling.

For Diaz, art and photography provide ways to communicate experiences, preserve memories, and explore questions of identity and belonging. Her creative work has allowed her to reflect on her experiences and consider how personal and cultural histories influence the way people understand themselves and the world around them. Through her academic journey, she also became increasingly aware of the importance of representation in educational institutions and the need for Latin American and Latino perspectives to receive meaningful attention in academic discussions.

One of the most significant experiences in her journey was participating in LALS’s Winter in Puerto Rico study abroad program led by Magdalena Sagardía Jiménez, an opportunity that helped strengthen her connection to Puerto Rican art and culture. During the program, Diaz visited museums and galleries and encountered artistic works that encouraged her to reconsider her own creative possibilities. Seeing these works in person allowed her to connect classroom learning with direct cultural and artistic experiences. She explained that the program helped her recognize her place within the Puerto Rican artistic community and validated aspects of her identity that had not always been fully acknowledged in other academic settings.

The experience also influenced her creative development, including the ideas behind a handmade book project connected to her father and the memories they shared. Through this work, she explored personal history, family relationships, and the ways art can preserve meaningful conversations and experiences. The program provided an opportunity to engage with cultural spaces that might otherwise have been difficult to access, demonstrating how experiential learning can expand students understanding of their academic subjects while inspiring new creative directions.

Diaz's relationship with the LALS Department has also been reflected in her work as a photographer for the department’s brochures and promotional materials. Photography allows her to document the people that contribute to the department’s identity. Her work demonstrates how visual communication can help represent a community and introduce its academic opportunities to students who may be considering studying Latin American and Latino Studies. By bringing her artistic perspective into the department’s promotional materials, she contributes to making the LALS community more visible and accessible.

Today, Diaz brings her academic and creative experiences into the classroom as an instructor of LAC 143: Latin American Art at Lehman College. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes dialogue, participation, and the importance of listening to students. Rather than positioning herself as the only voice in the classroom, she seeks to create an environment where students can

share their ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another. She believes that every student brings a valuable perspective shaped by their individual experiences, backgrounds, and interests.

Her approach encourages students to understand that learning is a collaborative process. Through conversations about art and culture, students can explore different interpretations, challenge assumptions, and recognize the importance of diverse perspectives. For Diaz, the classroom should be a space where students feel comfortable contributing to discussions and connecting academic material to their own lives. Her experiences within LALS have reinforced the value of creating educational environments in which students feel recognized, supported, and encouraged to grow.

Reflecting on her journey, Diaz also emphasizes the importance of mentorship She encourages current and prospective LALS majors and minors to identify their goals, remain open to new opportunities, and seek out people who share their interests and ambitions. She reminds students that professors are not simply there to assign coursework; they are also resources who want to help students succeed. Reaching out for guidance, asking questions, and taking advantage of the opportunities available through the college can make an important difference in a student’s academic and professional development.

Diaz's story highlights how education can create opportunities for individuals to discover their identities, strengthen their creative voices, and build meaningful connections with their communities. Her message to students is clear: remain curious, recognize the value of your perspective, and do not be afraid to ask for support. Within the LALS Department, learning is not only about earning a degree; it is also about discovering new possibilities and developing the confidence to pursue them.