The NAU Review — Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! + an exciting new degree program and research that changes what we know about brains

Sept. 10, 2024

Did you know Sept. 15 isn’t just the start of this annual celebration? It also marks the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries. Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days during this month at well. At NAU, it’s an important time of year.

“Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural contributions and vibrant histories of the Hispanic/Latine community. By highlighting these events, we not only honor the diversity that strengthens our society, but also create space for dialogue, understanding and unity,” said Claudia Rodas, an associate clinical professor in the Department of Educational Specialties and HSI advisor to the provost. “It is through recognizing and embracing our shared heritage that we foster a more inclusive and compassionate world.”

The Office of Inclusion and other campus partners are holding a number of events to celebrate this month, starting with a cooking demonstration sponsored by Louie’s Cupboard on Friday. The entire NAU community is invited to find opportunities to participate.

In the last decade, robots have successfully broken out of the sci-fi genre and secured indispensable roles in manufacturing, healthcare and aeronautics. To ensure Arizona has plenty of mechanical engineers ready to design, develop and deploy these robots, NAU’s College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences introduced the Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering degree program in Fall 2023, comprised of state-of-the-art technology training and real-world problem-solving.