Associate Professor of English
Worcester State University
Christina Santana is an Afro-Latina Associate Professor of English (Writing) at Worcester State University. She specializes in professional, technical, and community writing, as well as anti-racist civic and community engagement. Originally from the western U.S., she now calls both Central and Western Massachusetts home and regularly teaches civic engagement and service-learning courses at UMass Amherst. Her scholarship focuses on the infrastructures that support collaborative, equity-centered writing and public engagement. She is the lead editor and project manager of Anti-Racist Community Engagement: Principles and Practices, a nationally recognized volume that advances the field. An award-winning educator, she values projects that empower others to contribute to the common good.
Frances Perkins Scholar
Mount Holyoke College
Naiomi Robles is a Frances Perkins Scholar in her senior year at Mount Holyoke College (Go Green Griffins!). She is majoring in Critical Race Theory and Political Economy with a minor in Latinx Studies. Her passion lies in the preservation and celebration of her people's history. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in Holyoke, Massachusetts, she has strong personal and professional ties to her community. Naiomi currently serves as the Holyoke Bound Coordinator for the Five College Consortium and works for Holyoke Public Schools as the Manager of Culturally Responsive Education. She looks forward to finding the right graduate school as she continues her studies and her pursuit of redefining community engagement within higher education.
Historian, curator of collections at Wistariahurst Museum
City of Holyoke
Penni Martorell, the curator of collections at Wistariahurst Museum, also holds the position of Holyoke's City Historian. Her unwavering commitment to preserving and sharing the city's rich multi-cultural history is evident in her extensive work and collaborations. Her inclusive approach has strengthened community bonds and facilitated numerous successful projects that have enriched the cultural landscape of Holyoke. Martorell's vision for the archive at Wistariahurst extends far beyond its traditional role as a repository of artifacts. Through innovative exhibits, educational programs, and community outreach initiatives, she has created a vibrant center for shared memory and cultural expression. Martorell serves on the State Historical Records Advisory Board and her role as a lecturer at Simmons University Graduate School of Library and Information Science demonstrates her commitment to shaping the future of archival practice. Her unwavering dedication, and collaborative spirit, have made her an invaluable asset to internship and community based learning programs in the Five College network and beyond.
