The Latino Academy of Workforce Development has announced the hiring of two new full-time staff members: Julio García as director of education and Elizabeth Lorenz as director of operations.
The Latino Academy of Workforce Development works with over 800 students to provide the Spanish-language education and workforce training necessary to attain better jobs and build communities. Its unique student-focused approach in collaboration with employers, Madison College, local government entities and donors helps to empower students to make positive change in their careers.
Lorenz is a recent transplant to Madison from Mexico City, where she lived for almost 10 years. In Mexico City, Elizabeth studied her M.A. in Mexico-U.S. Studies at the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México), which she obtained with honorable mention. She completed undergraduate studies in International Relations at the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, in Monterrey, Mexico, and in Latin American Studies and Political Science at UW-Eau Claire.
Lorenz has ample experience in both the private and public sectors. In Mexico City, she served as the Academic Coordinator for Sprachgefuhl Languages, and as a consultant at Telemundo, General Electric Mexico, Volaris, and Ralph Wilson. She previously worked as a Bilingual Advocate and Support Group Facilitator at Bolton Refuge House, as well as Student Services Coordinator and member of the Strategic Planning Commission at UW-Eau Claire. She currently serves on the Board of Directors at Digital Radio 206 in Madison.
Julio García has been a resident of Madison for the last 16 years. He will bring to the Latino Academy over 20 years of experience in language teaching, course coordination, and curriculum development at college level. He came to Madison to pursue a graduate education at the University of Wisconsin. For 13 years, he worked facilitating and developing language, culture, and literature courses.
During the last two years, he has worked at the Tenant Resource Center as a bilingual housing specialist. He has developed and expanded services to the Hispanic community while being in charge of the agency’s outreach and education efforts.
“Elizabeth and Julio are great additions to the Latino Academy,” says Baltazar De Anda, Latino Academy’s executive director, in a statement. “They both bring skills that greatly benefit Latino Academy’s students. Their leadership will certainly strengthen the Latino Academy.”
