Dr. Mavel Z. Velasco

Editorial Summary

(From the candidate) Dr. Mavel Z. Velasco is a Professor of Latin American Literature at Virginia Wesleyan College . She earned her B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from Rutgers University in New Jersey, where due to her high academic performance she was hired as adjunct faculty. Her first teaching experience took place at a Kalamazoo, Michigan elementary school where she helped students with low performance. Mavel has more than 20 years of experience in education and has published numerous articles, and given talks on issues of grade and higher education and literature. Mavel has continuously involved herself in the community to promote diversity, acceptance, and higher expectations from our elected officials. Her efforts were recognized when in 1998 she was the recipient of a Virginia Beach Human Rights Commission award. Mix Magazine also rewarded her by giving her the 2008 Power People of Color Award for Education. Mavel is the proud mother of Sergio and Alexander. Sergio is currently finishing his MBA at the University of Michigan and Alexander is pursuing his writing passion. Her husband Wellinthon Muñoz is a Virginia Beach teacher at Salem High School. Her issues: ·Create more effective learning conditions for our children ·Support programs such as arts, technology, and foreign languages ·Establish a reward system for teachers who perform well and administrators that are effective instructional leaders