Over the past 25 years, Monique has held positions in foreign language translation, instruction, group tour coordination, and event planning. In 2006, she joined the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and served as the senior program coordinator in the Office for Access and Equity (2006-2013), while later serving as co-director of engagement, academic engagement liaison, and co-leader of anti-racism and anti-oppression efforts toward DEIA at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts (2013-2022). 

Monique is honored to join Illinois Extension as its first full-time Translation Specialist. She will serve as the principal Spanish translator and manager of multilingual translation projects, thus expanding Illinois Extension's reach and impact on its culturally diverse communities. This work also invites us to honor and engage with the cultural heritages and histories represented throughout our state while increasing equity and access to education and resources in the communities we serve.

Monique is the mother of an amazing adult son and is passionate about celebrating their Cuban, Iberian, and Scots Irish ancestry through family history research.
Education

• MLIS | School of Information Sciences | The iSchool at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• BA | Spanish Language; French Language concentration, Florida State University