Latine Alliance

To become a member of the Latine Alliance employee resource group, please submit a membership form so you can be informed of upcoming meetings and events. There is no cost associated with membership and no time commitments. Members can attend as many meetings and events as they would like. Individual membership in ERGs is strictly voluntary and open to all employees who are interested in joining, regardless of identity. Refer to the ERG benefits and guidelines for more information.

Resources

• LinkedIn Learning Online Courses (CMU login required) — A variety of courses are available for English language learners and non-native speakers of English; type "ESL" in the search bar to view options. You can also view courses in Spanish; click on the globe icon at the top right of the page to change the language.
• Latino/Hispanic Book List — Recommended fiction and non-fiction reading, curated by the Latine Alliance co-leads

Leadership

Stephanie Steren-Ruta, Co-Lead

Stephanie Steren-Ruta (she/her/ella) is an advanced manufacturing engineer at the Manufacturing Futures Institute. Raised in Argentina, she moved to the United States at a young age, overcoming the challenge of learning English upon arrival. In college, Stephanie was actively involved in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, significantly growing its membership and establishing events that continue to this day, nearly a decade later. Her dedication to volunteer work and pride in her heritage inspire her efforts to benefit the Latine CMU community. She is excited to co-lead this new role, aiming to make a positive impact.

Drucella Garcia, Co-Lead

Drucella joined Carnegie Mellon University in 2020 and now serves as an associate director of local recruitment strategy and outreach. She oversees access-focused and inclusive recruitment initiatives, collaborating on efforts related to admission travel, local prospective student engagement events and community-based organization relationship development. She leads our local College Success 101 and annual counselor fly-in college access day events. Last year, she spent eight months working at the CMU campus in Doha, Qatar.

Drucella is currently pursuing her master's in public management with a specialization in leadership and strategy. In her spare time, Drucella enjoys spending time with her goldendoodle and family, traveling the world, attending k-pop concerts and catching up on k-dramas.

Juan David Contreras Perez, Member Liaison

Juan David Contreras (he/him) is a robotics engineer at Carnegie Mellon University's National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), where he develops cutting-edge robotic systems with real-world applications. Originally from Cali, Colombia, Juan holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in engineering from Universidad del Valle.

Before moving to Pittsburgh in 2023, Juan held various roles in academia in Colombia, including lab coordinator and adjunct professor, where he fostered student engagement in engineering and robotics. Since arriving at CMU, he has actively supported the Latin American community, serving as an advisor for the Colombian Students Organization (CSO).

Juan is passionate about technology, education and building community. In his role as member liaison, he looks forward to connecting with members and strengthening relationships.