Marta Ayala
Community Relations Specialist
LALS
Contact
Building & Room:
1525 UH
Address:
601 S Morgan St.
Office Phone:
Email:
About
Marta Ayala is Community Affairs Specialist II for the Latin American and Latino Studies Program at UIC. She serves as a community and media liaison, events and community research specialist, and internships coordinator. She came to UIC as the Coordinator for the Lectures in the Community series which turned out to be a great success for LALS for its community engagement bringing together in their lectures the collaboration of universities, and community organizations that cemented the roots of ongoing LALS community relationships. She was born in México City, yet Chicago has been her home away from home for 53 years. She received her B.A. from DePaul University School for New Learning in Community Engagement. Her community and arts involvement begins with MARCh (Movimiento Artistico Chicano) working alongside José González. She is an ex-officio member of the Chancellor’s Committee on the Status of Latinos, an ambassador member for the Latino Cultural Center, and member for the Hilda López Ramos scholarship committee. Marta provides support for staff, both undergraduate and graduate students, and with student organizations including UPRS (Union for Puerto Rican Students), LPODER (Latino Planning Organization for Development, Education, and Regeneration), and LGSA (Latinx Graduate Student Association). She is a life long learner, a connecter, and community builder. Her passion beyond linking, networking and creating community, is supporting and advocating for the arts, students, faculty and staff at UIC and beyond. She recently received the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Latinos Civil Service recognition award for her exemplary service and commitment to the Latinx/o community