Aidé Acosta, from Mexico, is a PhD student in Anthropology with a Masters in Anthropology from UIUC.  She has received numerous awards including a National Science Foundation Diversity Fellowship and an outstanding rating as an excellent teacher.  She has forthcoming publications in the encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in U.S. History and Culture.  She has made numerous conference presentations and is a community leader in organizing local conferences and student organizations.