North Carolina State University celebrates Latinx Heritage Month each year from September 15th to October 15th. 15. And in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Latinx faculty make significant contributions to diverse communities on and off campus.
Alejandra Huerta is one of the Latina faculty members making a difference at North Carolina State University. Passionate about agricultural research and bacterial plant pathogens, Huerta is focused on expanding the university’s reach to better engage underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Huerta was born in Michoacán, Mexico, but later moved to Salinas, California, known as the “Salad Bowl of the World,” with his parents, who worked on a strawberry farm.
This first-generation college graduate is now an assistant professor of entomology and plant pathology at CALS. She is known for her research on the molecular mechanisms that bacteria use to compete in the environment. She runs a plant bacteriology laboratory. The lab consists of her two postdoctoral fellows, three graduate research assistants, and two lab technicians.
In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, Huerta recently spent some time reflecting on her journey as a scientist and her dedication to opening doors for more voices within STEM fields.
How did you become interested in plant pathology?
I wanted to become a doctor and majored in biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. However, I felt that the number of undergraduate introductory science courses was high. I also did not receive sufficient academic instruction or guidance in biology. So I switched to majoring in Spanish and Portuguese, which is a more welcoming community.
After graduating with a double major in Spanish and Portuguese, I worked at a community college as a translator and library assistant. I distinctly remember sitting in front of my computer and asking, “Is this the rest of my life?” I knew I could do more, so I earned a degree in chemistry from the University of California, Santa Cruz. When I was a chemistry student, I completed a plant pathology internship at the USDA Agricultural Research Service, where I discovered the importance of experiential learning.
At the age of 24, I discovered the science behind agriculture.
Why did you choose to teach at CALS?
As a doctoral student at the University of Wisconsin, I remember attending a conference and seeing North Carolina State University students attending and interacting. These students were demonstrating basic and advanced work at the conference, and I loved how they worked together as a team.
I then learned of an opportunity at North Carolina State University for a position as a plant bacteriologist, which included research, teaching, and extension. The opportunity was appealing. What sealed the deal for me was the assurance from CALS leadership that NC State was ready to accept my unique qualifications and the empowerment to initiate the changes I was ready to commit to. That’s what I felt.
What are some of the challenges you face as a Latinx professor?
Being a woman of color passionate about scientific research and expanding participation can be challenging. There is a belief that people who strongly advocate diversity are not good scientists. I say you can be whoever you want to be, and I demonstrate how you can be both. Being a dedicated leader and educator and supporting diversity does not mean that my science is of poor quality.
What organizations related to Latino culture are you involved in?
I’m a supporter of Juntos. The organization works with Latino families to help them complete high school and move on to post-secondary education. I believe that young people benefit greatly from this program. My research team is developing a variety of learning modules and experiential training for Juntos students interested in STEM careers.
I have been working with the Latin American Student Association at North Carolina State. I am also involved with the American Society of Plant Pathologists, where I strongly advocate for diversity in leadership roles.
What do you enjoy most about being a CALS faculty member?
I study bacterial plant pathogens and how they interact with plant hosts and other microorganisms in the environment, while also helping diverse talents learn to be themselves and become tomorrow’s leaders. I enjoy creating a safe space for myself. I love bringing people together and facilitating difficult conversations where people can express themselves. People are most productive when they are in a happy environment.
North Carolina State University’s hiring of Latinx faculty is at an all-time high. Some of these faculty members are enthusiastic and motivated to work with Latinx students. However, many of these students are not prepared to pursue a career in agriculture because their primary association with agriculture is labor. I love my job and am happy to be working at CALS. It can be stressful, but considering where I started, it’s a privilege. North Carolina State University has provided me with a platform that I can take full advantage of to share what I know. I can do what I choose. Very few people have that privilege.