BÉlgica Marisol CucalÓn

Bélgica [she/her/ella] has spent her career working to foster spaces of joy, belonging, and curiosity for students and families.

Prior to joining Kindred,  Bélgica served as a middle and high school ELA teacher and academic advisor at a gender-responsive, trauma-informed, holistic education center working with young girls made vulnerable by inequitable systems. As a teacher, she also served as a TeachSDGs ambassador advocating for more culturally-responsive classrooms and a student body of more globally competent changemakers. One of her most memorable experiences was being a UNA-USA delegate to the UN Commission on the Status of Women in 2018 and learning from first-hand accounts of the institutionalized racism and sexism that perpetuate gender inequality globally.  She has also served as an adjunct instructor at the University of South Florida teaching world religions and new religious movements, and was focused on faith- and community- based partnerships with government institutions for the promotion of human rights in her research. Additionally, she has experience supporting diversity and inclusion through her organizing of interfaith and intercultural student dialogues on campus.

Bélgica earned a Bachelor of Arts in both Humanities and Religious Studies, and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of South Florida. Currently, she is a doctoral student at American University’s Education Policy and Leadership program focused on race and education equity.

After 30+ years living in Florida,  Bélgica is proud to now call herself a resident of Maryland and enjoys exploring the trails with her dog, Odie.