Hispanic Heritage Month Employee Spotlight: Maria Luisa Rossel

Name: Maria Luisa Rossel, pronouns: she, her.

Position: Press Secretary for Spanish language media at NWF

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

Hispanic Heritage Month is a great opportunity to learn more about our history and contributions to the U.S.

How would you describe your cultural identity? How do you identify yourself? Why?

I am a Peruvian-American bilingual Hispanic woman living in the U.S. for the last 24 years. That means that half of my life has been bicultural! I love and appreciate very much that I can use my bicultural and bilingual experience in my work every day at National Wildlife Federation and that I can reach out to bilingual Hispanic journalists to let them know about our work in conservation.

Is there a Hispanic/Latine/x Advocate, Activist, or Conservationist that inspires you?

I am inspired by American civil rights leader Dolores Huerta who is 94 years old!

What is your favorite thing about your culture/heritage?

One of my favorite bilingual authors is Marie Arana, a Peruvian-American writer who recently published "Latino Land, A portrait of America's Largest and Least Understood minority;" a great research and history book about Hispanic Americans since 1600.