UFS 2016 will take place at San Jose State University on February 19-21 and is being hosted by Grupo Folklorico Luna y Sol de San Jose State.  The organizing committee is honored to announce the participation of Blanca L. Sánchez-Cruz as the workshop presenter for “Putting Technology to Use”.  Living in the Silicon Valley, technology is an integral part of life. This workshop will explore how free tools can promote group transparency, instruction, and communication.

Blanca L. Sánchez-Cruz has served as the Assistant Director for Student Support Programs/MESA (Math, Engineering, Science Advancement) Engineering Program Director in the College of Engineering at San José State University since June 2012. She has contributed to other college initiatives including; serving as staff adviser to diversity student organizations, supporting the Excellence in you Engineering Education summer bridge program (EXCEED), staffing freshmen and transfer orientations and serving as the college representative on both the African-American and Chican@/Latin@ Student Success Task Forces and conceiving and managing the first Silicon Valley Women in Engineering Conference at San Jose State University. Prior to her role in the College of Engineering, she had over 10 years of progressive responsibility experience developing and coordinating co-curricular academic support and college preparation services for low-income/first-generation college-bound high school students and their families. Her roles included Upward Bound Project Academic Coordinator and Program Coordinator, as well as three years as Interim Director for the Office of Pre-College Programs. Concurrently with her work in education, she has also contributed to non-profit efforts to alliterative poverty and improve educational outcomes of children by providing their parents access to information, resources and basic necessities through organization like the Sunday Friends Foundation, with whom she has worked since 2007.

Ms. Sanchez-Cruz earned her master’s degree in International Service from Roehampton University-London in 2008 and holds two bachelor’s degrees from San Jose State University; Hospitality Management with a concentration in Tourism (2003) and Global Studies with a concentration in Latin American Language and Culture (2006).

Since 2012 she has served as Assistant Artistic Director at Aztlan Academy of San Jose by providing dance instruction to children and adults in a number of Mexican folk dance styles; helping to develop and coordinate choreographic work, props and costumes; and with the general administrative tasks relating to performances and showcases.