Helen Sandoval is a Chicana feminist, educator, and mom who lives in California’s Central Valley with her husband and 3 sons. She is former Chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee in the Merritt Writing Program at UC Merced. She has presented at both regional and national conferences, including the UC Writing Conference, Young Rhetorician’s Conference, CCCCs and RSA. She is a member of the Latinx Caucus of NCTE/CCCC. Currently, her research interests include Critical Race Theory (CRT), Intersectionality, and Women of Color Feminism. While her research interests have evolved over time, her work has always represented a passion for helping all students, especially first-generation students of color, thrive in academia and in life. Her focus in her writing classes is to highlight the stories and lived experiences of marginalized peoples.