Our Team
Alejandra Spector
Producer, Co-Creator, Co-Host
Alejandra Spector is an El Paso, Texas native currently residing in Austin, Texas. She received a bachelor's degree in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of Texas at Austin in 2012.
From 2012-2014 She was Director of Outreach for Mexicanos en Exilio; a non-profit dedicated to assisting Mexican activists and reporters gain political asylum while continuing to speak out against state corruption and impunity. She was invited to speak nationally and internationally about Mexicanos en Exilio and the political asylum process. She had the privilege of travelling across the United States with the Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity lead by Javier Sicilia.
In 2013 she co-founded Proyecto: CAMINA a project that provided online therapy for immigrants who had suffered trauma due to extreme violence. In 2014 she was accepted to the UT Austin School of Social Work as a bilingual St. David’s Scholar. Her first field placement was as a mental health care provider at El Buen Samaritano, an integrative primary care clinic that serves a large number of immigrants from Mexico and Central America. In addition to her work as an activist, public speaker, and social worker she is a writer of fiction and non-fiction. Her work can be found in several online publications including: The Mighty, Matador Network, and Animal Politico. She is currently in her final year of graduate school, and enjoying learning all about equine therapy.
She studied Western Herbalism at The Sacred Journey School of Herbal Medicine in Austin, Texas
She enjoys dark comedy, complaining, and reading outside. Her cat has extra toes.
She would never pick a favorite herb or tea because she loves them all!
Producer, Co-Creator, Co-Host
Alejandra Spector is an El Paso, Texas native currently residing in Austin, Texas. She received a bachelor's degree in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of Texas at Austin in 2012.
From 2012-2014 She was Director of Outreach for Mexicanos en Exilio; a non-profit dedicated to assisting Mexican activists and reporters gain political asylum while continuing to speak out against state corruption and impunity. She was invited to speak nationally and internationally about Mexicanos en Exilio and the political asylum process. She had the privilege of travelling across the United States with the Caravan for Peace with Justice and Dignity lead by Javier Sicilia.
In 2013 she co-founded Proyecto: CAMINA a project that provided online therapy for immigrants who had suffered trauma due to extreme violence. In 2014 she was accepted to the UT Austin School of Social Work as a bilingual St. David’s Scholar. Her first field placement was as a mental health care provider at El Buen Samaritano, an integrative primary care clinic that serves a large number of immigrants from Mexico and Central America. In addition to her work as an activist, public speaker, and social worker she is a writer of fiction and non-fiction. Her work can be found in several online publications including: The Mighty, Matador Network, and Animal Politico. She is currently in her final year of graduate school, and enjoying learning all about equine therapy.
She studied Western Herbalism at The Sacred Journey School of Herbal Medicine in Austin, Texas
She enjoys dark comedy, complaining, and reading outside. Her cat has extra toes.
She would never pick a favorite herb or tea because she loves them all!
Ana Vidina Hernández
Producer, Co-Creator, Co-Host
Ana was born and raised in Austin, TX. She holds a Bachelor's in Latin American Studies and History, as well as a Master's of Science in Social Work and a Master's of Arts in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Ana is the program coordinator of Girasol and a lead therapist at the YWCA Greater Austin. Girasol is a program she helped create within the Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing (TXICFW) at the UT Austin School of Social Work. Girasol's work focuses on supporting immigrants in detention centers and in Texas communities, training lawyers and other professionals who serve immigrants about the intersection of trauma and migration, and advocating for increased access to services for the undocumented community.
Ana comes from an organizing background - her parents have been involved in movements to support social justice in Latin America and the U.S. for decades and she was attending rallies and protests before she could walk. She continued this tradition through her work with UT's chapter of Amnesty International, the University Leadership Initiative, and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty.
As a social worker, Ana has worked to integrate her practice at all levels - from individual therapeutic work, to group work, to legislative advocacy, to community organizing and beyond. She created Girasol as a way to realize this goal of integrated work on multiple levels that has a tangible impact for the wellbeing of immigrants everywhere. This podcast is an extension of this idea as well - a way to bring many voices together toward the same goal.
Ana lives with Leo, Alisa, and her two cats - Charlie and Chewie (named for Chewbacca of course!).
She enjoys playing music, dancing, being outside, hugs, and musical marathons.
Her favorite tea is peach green tea.
Producer, Co-Creator, Co-Host
Ana was born and raised in Austin, TX. She holds a Bachelor's in Latin American Studies and History, as well as a Master's of Science in Social Work and a Master's of Arts in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Ana is the program coordinator of Girasol and a lead therapist at the YWCA Greater Austin. Girasol is a program she helped create within the Texas Institute for Child and Family Wellbeing (TXICFW) at the UT Austin School of Social Work. Girasol's work focuses on supporting immigrants in detention centers and in Texas communities, training lawyers and other professionals who serve immigrants about the intersection of trauma and migration, and advocating for increased access to services for the undocumented community.
Ana comes from an organizing background - her parents have been involved in movements to support social justice in Latin America and the U.S. for decades and she was attending rallies and protests before she could walk. She continued this tradition through her work with UT's chapter of Amnesty International, the University Leadership Initiative, and the Campaign to End the Death Penalty.
As a social worker, Ana has worked to integrate her practice at all levels - from individual therapeutic work, to group work, to legislative advocacy, to community organizing and beyond. She created Girasol as a way to realize this goal of integrated work on multiple levels that has a tangible impact for the wellbeing of immigrants everywhere. This podcast is an extension of this idea as well - a way to bring many voices together toward the same goal.
Ana lives with Leo, Alisa, and her two cats - Charlie and Chewie (named for Chewbacca of course!).
She enjoys playing music, dancing, being outside, hugs, and musical marathons.
Her favorite tea is peach green tea.
Leo Shue Schuster
Producer, Audio Engineer
Leo has been living in Austin, TX for over 17 years. He is pursuing a career in software engineering. Leo enjoys spending his free time playing board games, going on hikes, and recording audio projects.
A few teas he enjoys drinking are hot jasmine green tea, cold mugicha, and iced (milky-sweet) chai and thai teas.
Producer, Audio Engineer
Leo has been living in Austin, TX for over 17 years. He is pursuing a career in software engineering. Leo enjoys spending his free time playing board games, going on hikes, and recording audio projects.
A few teas he enjoys drinking are hot jasmine green tea, cold mugicha, and iced (milky-sweet) chai and thai teas.
Alisa Ardiel Hernández
Communications Coordinator, Resident Young Person
Alisa Ardiel Hernandez was born and raised in Austin, TX. She majored in Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, with a minor in Latin American Studies and a certificate in Human Rights and Social Justice. She is currently a Social Work and Public Affairs dual-Master's student at UT Austin. Alisa plans to work in the nonprofit or legislative world to advocate for change in the immigration and criminal justice systems.
As the "Resident Young Person," she has been tasked with tweeting responsibly.
Alisa's hobbies include photography, playing with puppies, and keeping up with RuPaul's Drag Race.
Alisa's favorite tea is actually coffee.
Communications Coordinator, Resident Young Person
Alisa Ardiel Hernandez was born and raised in Austin, TX. She majored in Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin, with a minor in Latin American Studies and a certificate in Human Rights and Social Justice. She is currently a Social Work and Public Affairs dual-Master's student at UT Austin. Alisa plans to work in the nonprofit or legislative world to advocate for change in the immigration and criminal justice systems.
As the "Resident Young Person," she has been tasked with tweeting responsibly.
Alisa's hobbies include photography, playing with puppies, and keeping up with RuPaul's Drag Race.
Alisa's favorite tea is actually coffee.
Paloma
Muse, Performance Artist
Paloma's origins are mysterious, but she came into Alejandra's life as a young pup. She was supposed to serve as an emotional support animal, but it soon became apparent that her temperament was more suited to the life of an artiste. She is an actress, model, singer/songwriter, and a professional muse. None of the crew at the Latinx Mental Health Podcast knows what a professional muse does, but she assures them it is a job title.
Her likes include: intersectional feminism, food, and running in circles.
She dislikes: White supremacy and leaf blowers.
Her favorite tea is gravy.
Muse, Performance Artist
Paloma's origins are mysterious, but she came into Alejandra's life as a young pup. She was supposed to serve as an emotional support animal, but it soon became apparent that her temperament was more suited to the life of an artiste. She is an actress, model, singer/songwriter, and a professional muse. None of the crew at the Latinx Mental Health Podcast knows what a professional muse does, but she assures them it is a job title.
Her likes include: intersectional feminism, food, and running in circles.
She dislikes: White supremacy and leaf blowers.
Her favorite tea is gravy.
Special thanks to Kate McKerlie for creating our beautiful logo!
