51茶馆

Three members of the Boston College community are named to an annual honors list of individuals who have had a positive impact on the Massachusetts Latino community in fields such as business, sports, academia, community service, and the arts.

Included in the 2019 Latino 30 Under 30, compiled by El Mundo Boston鈥攁 Latino media outlet serving Boston and New England鈥攖his year are Boston College School of Social Work Assistant Professor Mar铆a Pi帽eros-Lea帽o, Woods College of Advancing Studies graduate student Oscar Zepeda, and Woods College alumnus Antonelli Mejia '14.

鈥淭he best and brightest the country has to offer come to Boston and this is where the future Latino leaders of America come of age,鈥� El Mundo Boston said in a press release, noting the 鈥渃oncentration of elite colleges, universities, and global companies鈥� in the area. 鈥淭his list shines a light on those individuals who we should all keep an eye on.鈥�

Maria Pi帽eros-Lea帽o, a native of Colombia, researches the links between maternal mental health and child health. She is studying the role of maternal depression on the development of childhood obesity among minority groups, and working on culturally adapting interventions for Latinx populations. She is also a co-principal investigator in a transnational study between the United States and Mexico that explores the repercussions of acculturation on the body weight of mothers and children.

Having launched successful programs in Illinois with immigrant mothers and Latinx families, Pi帽eros-Lea帽o is collaborating with East Boston-based social service agencies to create interventions that will improve the mental health of children and families who experienced high levels of trauma from their migration experiences. She hopes to extend similar services to other predominantly Latinx communities elsewhere in Massachusetts, and abroad.

Oscar Zepeda came to the U.S. from Mexico in 2013 to enroll at Merrimack College, and is pursuing a master鈥檚 degree in applied economics at the Woods College. He is also director of business development for Boston College鈥檚 Graduate Intrapreneurship/Entrepreneurship Association. While at Merrimack, Zepeda and his father founded OMZE Group, which seeks to aid small- and medium-sized Latino businesses in achieving their international market objectives. Earlier this year, OMZE鈥攐f which he is vice president and COO鈥攍aunched its own brand, Real Zepeda Tequila, which it is seeking to distribute throughout Massachusetts and New England.

Reflecting his desire to promote entrepreneurship and business development in Boston鈥檚 Latino community, Zepeda serves on the board of directors for the Veronica Robles Cultural Center in East Boston, where he teaches a marketing class to young Latinos; his students put their classroom studies to use by running a food truck business.

Antonelli Mejia, who spent most of his childhood in the Dominican Republic before his family emigrated to Boston, has paved a career path in education, working in public and charter school systems while supporting students and families鈥攑articularly those who are recent immigrants and facing language barriers and other challenges in their transition to the U.S. He received a bachelor's degree from the Woods College in 2014, is a fellow in Boston College鈥檚 Lynch Leadership Academy, which seeks to develop a powerful and sustainable network of highly effective leaders at schools, within systems, and in communities, and dramatically increase the opportunities and outcomes for all students.

He has collaborated with nonprofit organizations such as Educators for Excellence, where he co-authored a research document proposing policy recommendations to support students鈥� social and emotional well-being. He was one of three U.S. educators selected for the Univision 鈥淣uestro Maestroto鈥� campaign, through which he was able to tell his story and inspire other Latinos to be educational leaders.

.

For more information, visit the .

University Communications