UNO Souls Chat

I am honored to be chatting today with Leah Rampy –  Leah is an UNO Soul.Leah has a new book coming out called “Earth & Soul: Reconnecting amid Climate Chaos.” After giving numerous presentations on the dangers of impending climate change, Leah became convinced that something was missing from the conversations. With experience as a teacher, professor, corporate and nonprofit executive, and leadership consultant, she began a decades-long journey to understand what lies beneath our unwillingness to change our interactions with the natural world. Her growing commitment to reweaving soul and Earth has been informed by leading over a dozen pilgrimages and many more retreats, extensive reading and research, her contemplative practice, and the wisdom of the living world. Leah lives in a cohousing community in Shepherdstown, WV, with her husband David. They have two adult children.✍️ Listen to Leah speak about why she decided to write Earth and Soul (4:00)

I am honored to be chatting today with Maria Rodriguez for Hispanic Heritage Month – Maria is an UNO Soul. Maria is the President and CEO of Vanguard Communications, a PR agency she cofounded with a business partner when she was 27 years old. Their mission is to advance social change and champion causes to help protect the health and well-being of our planet and its people. She has been honing her skills at social marketing, media relations, multicultural/multiethnic outreach and event production for more than 30 years. She is the daughter of Spanish immigrants. And I am proud to call her my friend.

Breathing exercises are amazing, because what we know for sure is that we are in touch with our breath at any moment. And also deep breaths can help minimize anxiety, stress and all kinds of emotions.Today we're going to practice Bumble Bee breathing, also known as Humming Breath. This breath will relax you if you've been feeling angry or if you have a headache. I invite you to make yourself comfortable by sitting or laying down. Close your eyes. If you're comfortable with that, we'll start with just a deep releasing breath in - and a deep breath out. Every deep breath helps you to relax more.We're going to start with taking three belly breaths or diaphragmatic breaths, breathing in. Breathing out. Two more times now we'll breathe in through our nose and breathe out with a hum. The louder you hum, the more you will relax. Let's take three bumble bee breaths together. Breathe in through the nose and breathe out – hmmmmmm.Breathe in - and breathe out. Hmmmmmm. Breathe in - and breathe out. Hmmmmm.You might have felt vibrations in your face. This breath calms our body and our mind. You can practice this breath two times a day if you'd like. Thank you for spending a few moments of your day with me. Please let me know what you think of this breathing exercise.I honor the light in you. ✨UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

This breathing exercise is powerful — what we know for sure is that our breath is available to us at any moment. Taking deep breaths can help minimize our anxiety, stress, anger, sadness — supporting all types of emotions.Today we're going to practice alternate nostril breathing. This breathing technique can have wonderful health benefits, and it can really help if you're feeling overwhelmed. I invite you to sit on a chair or lay down on the floor. You want to be comfortable. Close your eyes if you're comfortable with that.We'll start with just a deep, relaxing breath in and a deep breath out. Every deep breath helps you to relax more. Using your right thumb, close your right nostril while inhaling through the left. Now exhale by covering your left nostril with your ring finger and breathe out through your right.Inhale again, but through the right nostril. And then exhale through your left. That is one cycle. Repeat this three more times. Now just release the hand. Take a few breaths here in stillness. Feel the effects. You can practice this breath two times a day if you feel you need it to bring down anxiety. Thank you for spending a few moments of your day with me.Please let us know what you think of this breathing exercise. I honor the light in you. ✨UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

I am honored to be chatting today with Jancel Conroy,  he is an UNO Soul. His experience includes: 15 years federal police officer, 10-year security officer, 4 years combat veteran United States Marine Corps, 20 years professional Fitness coach, functional fitness, underground strength certified, Martial arts instructor in Japanese, Russian, Indonesian, Chinese martial arts. 20-year practitioner and teacher of meditation, and counseling for high stress environments. Here is a link to his Facebook page: Crowbar gym LLC | FacebookPERSONAL TRAINING

This breathing exercise is amazing — what we know for sure is that our breath is available to us at any moment. Taking deep breaths can help minimize our anxiety, stress, anger, sadness — supporting all types of emotions.Today we're going to practice that 4—7—8 breathing exercise. This breathing exercise can help slow down our heart rate and lower our blood pressure. I invite you to make yourself comfortable by sitting or laying down. You can close your eyes if you're comfortable with that.➡️ We're going to start with just a deep releasing breath in... and a breath out. Every deep breath helps you to relax more. 4️⃣ Now, close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose to a mental count of four. 7️⃣ Hold your breath for a count of seven. 8️⃣ Then exhale completely through your mouth to a count of eight. Repeat this three more times at your pace. Then, release the technique and go back to your normal breathing.You can practice this breath two times a day, if you feel the need to bring down anxiety, or to find a moment of calm in a busy day. Thank you for spending a few moments of your day with me. Please let me know what you think of this breathing exercise. I honor that light in your. ✨ #meditation #health #breath #aware #wellbeingUNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

I am honored to be chatting today with Lisa Geraci Rigoni – she is an UNO Soul. She is the author of the book "17 Spatulas and the Man Who Fried an Egg: Reclaim Your Space Mentally and Physically". Lisa is the owner and the CDO (Chief Declutter Officer) of The Organizing Mentors, a company specializing in home organization and move management, and is a certified company with The National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers. Lisa has been helping her clients reclaim their space mentally and physically since 2008. More at theorganizingmentors.com + purchase her book at https://getbook.at/lisa_geraci_rigoni

 We're serving up an UNO Souls Bite as we offer our thoughts. The dictionary defines equanimity as the evenness of mind, especially under stress.We see equanimity as the space of awareness that can allow life to be just as it is. If we train the mind to make kindness, compassion, and equanimity what we practice, these qualities can become the shape of our mind."In between the stimulus and the response there is a space. And in that space is your power and your freedom." — Victor Frankl#meditation #humanity #relaxation #awareness #equanimity #wellbeing UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

Listen in as Brigitta + Phillip chat and reflect on the past year. This simple exercise brings awareness of your surroundings and encourages gratitude.

Les invito que me acompañen en una meditación de 5 minutos para ayudarnos a calmar la mente ✨UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

I am honored to be chatting today with Natasha Magrath. She is the President/Owner of the award-winning company - You've Got Maids of Northern Virginia. She founded the company in 2017. She has a degree in accounting and worked for more than 25 years as a Senior Accountant/Controller in various industries. She credits her father for instilling in her the idea that if you have a dream that you want to achieve in your life, you must go for it because nothing is impossible. Natasha is well known in the community as a loving, kind and generous person. As an immigrant from Lebanon, Natasha became a U.S. citizen in 2002. She has a son and daughter and is married to her husband Mike. This is her website: http://northernvirginia.youvegotmaids.com/

Queremos enseñarles un ejercicio sencillo de relajación. Este ejercicio se llama "El Abrazo de la Mariposa". Esta estimulación bilateral activa e integra la información de los dos hemisferios del cerebro. Esto ayuda a reducir el estrés y la ansiedad. Y también puedes hacerlo casi en cualquier lugar. Por ejemplo en elcarro o en la fila del supermercado…Esta herramienta es sencilla y poderosa. Puedes hacerlo durante 30 segundos o 3 minutos.  Esperamos que les guste este ejercico. ✨UNO Souls is a wellbeing organization that centers and nurtures each person so they may blossom into their fuller self. ✨

Salud, bienestar y conexión, se pueden lograr si aprendes a utilizar tu respiración. Puedes hacer esta práctica en cualquier momento, en cualquier lugar, en cualquier situación.Nuestra mente puede vivir en muchos otros lugares... en el futuro, en el pasado... pero nuestra respiración solo puede estar en este momento presente. Está anclada aquí y ahora.El poder y la presencia de anclaje de tu respiración. ✨

I am honored to be chatting today with Jen Sterling. She is the Chief Red Head for Jen Sterling Art. Jen is a fine artist located in Annapolis, Maryland. She recently exited life as an entrepreneur in branding and design, where she founded three companies over 30 years. While traveling in the American southwest with her sister almost 20 years ago, she was struck by the colors she saw there – so vivid, so alive, so powerful. The experience struck her so much that when she came home she immediately bought paint and canvas and started trying to convey the rich spectrum of emotions those colors evoked in her. What started as a hobby has become her full-time passion. Not an easy road, but an enriching one for sure. Her work now inspires energy and excitement in homes and workspaces across the country. She works large and small and adores commissions. This is her website: jensterling.com  

This simple yet powerful relaxation tool can be done almost anywhere for 30 seconds or 3 minutes. The bilateral stimulation activates and integrates information from the brain's two hemispheres, which helps to bring down our stress and anxiety. Try this when you feel your thoughts begin to race, or if you feel the need for a few seconds of calm. ✨

Take a moment to experience how these simple actions can give a calm + comforting presence to yourself. Join us as we take a deep breath and say out loud... "I am safe. I am okay. I am loved. I am grateful that my body does the best it can, with what it has in the moment it's in, to heal and protect me. I've got this."Say this every day, and you'll start to feel a shift happen. We hope you carry this sense of calm and ease into your day. ✨ 

I am honored to be chatting today with Amy Bobchek. She is the SVP of Sales at Everfi, co-founder of BENEFIT, front woman for world famous Big Bad Juju, CEO of Loudoun Art Tours, and as Loudoun Now said “a local culture maven”.  

Mindfulness is an intentional focus on one's thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations — in the present moment. We are going to apply that while eating. Nourishing our soul with nourishing food is so important, and it can feel like such a special moment to occasionally give yourself a chance to really focus on what you're eating by taking your time to really ~savor the deliciousness~ of the food. Take a moment and experience the sensation of mindful eating. ✨#meditation #mindful #nourishment #eating #aware #moment #wellbeing

I am honored to be chatting today with Shabnam Curtis. She is an UNO Soul. She is an Integral Life Coach and Author. And she has volunteered for the Loudoun Literacy Council. Shabnam was born and raised in Tehran, experiencing the Iranian Revolution of 1979 firsthand. In 2004 she immigrated to the United States, where she now works as an Integral Life Coach and teaches memoir writing workshops. On the journey of self-growth, she helps her clients search to bring out their hidden gems through their stories.  

I am honored to be chatting today with Elizabeth Hope. She is an UNO Soul. She is a life coach and energy healer. Listen as Elizabeth talks to us about the power of color! There are lots of ideas on color and color theory.  Wassily Kandinsky, one of the pioneers of abstraction art, said, "Color is a power which directly influences the soul." Let us know your thoughts about how color affects your mood!    

I am honored to be chatting today with Elizabeth Liotta. She is an UNO Soul. She is a teacher, medical intuitive and a practitioner of holistic therapies and the Shamanic Arts. AND she's an author!Elizabeth has studied with well respected institutions of healing in the United States and with Native healers in North, Central and South America. For 26 years she has worked to support adults and children in their healing journeys. Many physicians and other health professionals refer clients to Elizabeth because of her ability to help people to heal on all levels. More on her website: TouchingLife.net    

I am honored to be chatting today with Del Martinez. He is an UNO Soul. He is a technology entrepreneur that has worked with non-profits in the medical and social services industries for over 30 years. He's also the President of the Board of Imagine Wellbeing – a nonprofit here in Loudoun County, VA. AND he's a poet!

Here's a simple and quick technique to help ground yourself and relax ✨#meditation #health #wellbeing #energy #healing #transformation

I am honored to be chatting today with Eduardo and Claudia better known as Bernie and Klau. They are UNO Souls.  They work in different healing modalities. They are originally from Mexico. They have been teaching alternative healing methods in multiple cities of Mexico, USA and China for over a decade. They love helping people by sharing tools that help them heal and improve their energy flows. Their current project is focused on the Hispanic community with a YouTube channel, a blog and multiple online live events. In the near future Bernie y Klau plan to expand their offerings to English speaking people both with online classes and group sessions. They also offer a limited amount of remote individual healing sessions over zoom both in English and Spanish.Bernie y Klau believe nothing is impossible and love exploring the energy and consciousness worlds.  

I am honored today to be chatting with Misti Burmeister – an UNO Soul.  She is an author, speaker, and an executive coach. Washington Business Journal named Misti among the top women who mean business. She has served as an executive coach and trainer to such major organizations as Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business, Marriott, Johnson & Johnson, AT&T, the United States Navy, and the Environmental Protection Agency.Misti is a serial disruptor who has worked with leaders across industries to drive engagement across generations. Comfort, complacency, and fear thwart growth—it is for this reason leaders look to Misti for her fresh perspective and ability to instigate enthusiasm, engagement and growth. Her 4th book, Provoking Greatness, offers a unique approach to revealing the talent hidden within your team.

I am honored today to be chatting with Colleen Breuning – an UNO Soul. She is a tax paraprofessional at Yount, Hyde & Barbour, and was formerly the Director of HR & Business Operations at Loudoun Free Clinic. AND she's a poet!

Join us as we chat through the unforgettable truths we discovered this past year, and what we're hopeful for in the year ahead. We'd love to hear from you ... What did 2021 teach you? And which lessons will you bring into 2022? Let us know in the comments!#wordsofwisdom"Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to chose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won't accept." — Anna Taylor—“Compassionate people ask for what they need. They say ‘no' when they need to, and when they say ‘yes' they mean it. They're compassionate because their boundaries keep them out of resentment.” — Brene Brown—reminder:you can love people and simultaneously not allow them to harm you. — Yung Pueblo

Join us for what Donna Eden calls "the daily vitamin routine", focusing on these four taps. Eden Energy Medicine is the oldest, safest, most organic, and most accessible medicine there is. Doing this daily, preferably to start your day will help you reduce your anxiety. It will also give you some energy. ✨  #meditation #health #human #relaxation #aware #edenenergy #wellbeing

As we go about our day, we don't often have the recognition of am I holding my breathe, how's my posture, am I scrunching my shoulders too tight? Take a few moments to make the connection back to your body, and connecting to your breath. The breath connects the mind and body. ✨

I am honored today to be chatting with my daughter, Brigitta Elsa White – an UNO Soul. She is a dancer, dance movement therapist and a children's yoga teacher. 

Walking meditation is simply a form of meditation—in action. There are formal ways to go about this, but today we are focusing on an informal way to do this. This is a way to bring body and mind into harmony. Take a moment to walk in a mindful way. ✨We hope you have a chance to try a walking meditation. We would love to hear from you if you do try this! As always, we honor the light in you.#meditation #health #wellbeing

I am honored today to be chatting with Diana Katz – an UNO Soul. She has had several professions, including in IT, as a body worker, and a grassroots philanthropist. She thinks of herself as a learner and a catalyst. She is retired professionally, but not from trying to tilt the world towards good.

The teaching on Tonglen is Buddhist and it means giving and receiving. It comes from a series of sayings to train the mind in compassion. Join us as we consciously breathe in stillness, and exhale turbulence — breathe in clarity, and let go of confusion — breathe in love, and let go of fear. We close with a poem offering, Human Family by @drmayaangelouLet's remember that no matter how much we give away, we are still full and complete.  ✨#meditation #health #wellbeing

Easy Peasy Mindfulness Technique This relaxation exercise is about getting in touch with your 5 senses to reduce anxiety. Reconnecting with all of your senses will ground you in the present moment. And, it slows down your fight, flight, or freeze state. Keep this tool handy to use at a moment's notice.  It will give you some relief from an anxious thought, or from ruminating thoughts.  ✨

I am honored today to be chatting with Daniela Moro Williams – an UNO Soul. She is the Chef and Owner of Cucinamore, LLCDaniela Moro Williams is a very talented personal chef that comes to your home to create a feast for you and your guests. You just have to pick the menu, and you will have a dinner party that you and your guests will not forget. Daniela sees food as an opportunity to nourish your soul. And she is all about food from different cultures evolving through the years. She savors the deliciousness of real food – and encourages shopping at your local farmer's market and locally-owned shops. And she sees food as a gift that we are given. It enriches and nourishes our soul. We are lucky to have her in our community!You can find information about her services at https://www.cucinamore.net/

I am honored today to be chatting with Father Daniel Rivera – an UNO Soul. He is the Vicar of St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church, Sacerdote Vicario de la Iglesia San Gabriel.Father Daniel is the epitome of community service and being a beacon of light in Loudoun County, VA. He is very humble about this and says that it is part of his faith and ministry, but he goes above and beyond his ministry. Father Daniel has been the Vicar of St. Gabriels' Church for 8.5 years. He didn't go to the seminary until he was 40 years old. He studied social work, divinity, and theology. He formerly was an engineer working in IT. Father Daniel puts his whole heart and soul into serving the people in our community that are most in need. He says that it takes a village to provide service for the community – he's an important fiber in the tapestry of our community. Thank you Father Daniel!The services are at 10 a.m. on Sundays at Belmont Ridge Middle School and at 3 p.m. in Spanish at St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, VA. https://www.saintgabriels.net/⚕️ Listen to Father Daniel talk about the importance of vaccines. “I protect myself. I protect my family. I protect you. We protect one another.”  (3:01)

What's your style of communication? Is it the same for non-verbal communication? Join in on Brigitta and Phillip's chat about communicating, and how we are showing up in a relationship in terms of interpersonal dynamics.5️⃣  5:30 Do you know the 5 elements of mindful communication? Join in with us as we learn about the elements!

 A tool to have handy to use at a moment's notice. Maybe you're feeling overwhelmed, having trouble falling asleep, or just want a few seconds to yourself during a busy day  —Box Breathing is a great stress relief technique ✨

I am honored today to be chatting with Pat Pao – an UNO Soul. She is my Yoga and Eden Energy Medicine teacher.Pat is an amazing lady that we are very lucky to have in our community. She is a former professional dancer and ballet teacher. She was also a movie casting director in Asia. And she has been a yoga teacher for 20 years. Pat also offers private instruction. She has worked with many clients teaching them to use yoga and breathing to help cope with high blood pressure, Crohn's disease, stress, fibromyalgia and cancer. Pat teaches from the heart and emphasizes opening up to the total experience of yoga. She has been one of my lifelines during pandemic. I am so grateful for her!

Spend just a moment with an easy peasy way to lower your anxiety, no matter where you are. At work, in traffic — or even at the grocery store. This is a hand tracing exercise. Feel free to return to this exercise, whenever you need a moment of calm. ✨

UNO Souls producer Phillip and host Brigitta do their best to answer that question. What do you think? What is your answer? Feel free to chime in with any thoughts or comments. We would love to hear any of your insights, or tips on how to forgive.#WordsofWisdom

Salud, bienestar y conexión, se pueden lograr si aprendes a utilizar tu respiración. Puedes hacer esta práctica en cualquier momento, en cualquier lugar, en cualquier situación. Nuestra mente puede vivir en muchos otros lugares... en el futuro, en el pasado... pero nuestra respiración solo puede estar en este momento presente. Está anclada aquí y ahora. El poder y la presencia de anclaje de tu respiración. ✨

I am honored today to be chatting with Dr. Elliott Dacher – an UNO Soul. He is a physician, an author, and a meditation teacher. And I also like to call him my Guru.Elliott has been a very important person in my life. I am so grateful because he is the person that introduced me to meditation 28 years ago! Hear the story in this podcast. He also offers a weekly virtual meditation on Sundays at 10 a.m. – a true lifeline for me during this last year of the pandemic. Here’s the link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85438321891?pwd=a3NrOUYvdlYrUGJMQy91L0tST3EwZz09 Elliott is a true healer. Here’s a link to his bio: http://www.elliottdacher.org/about.html 

Wellness, wellbeing, and connection can all be done through learning how to use your breath. You can do this practice anytime, anywhere, in any situation. Our mind can live in so many other places... in the future, in the past... but our breath can only be in this present moment. It’s anchored to right here, right now.The power and the anchoring presence of your breath ✨

Can nature heal us?

UNO Souls producer Phillip and host Brigitta talk a profound, poignant subject this week: suffering. What is the definition, how has it affected our lives— and is suffering "optional?" Since the onset of COVID-19, difficult emotions have been prevalent and salient for all of us; we hope you find this special episode illuminating as Phillip and Brigitta reflect on their personal experiences with suffering and compassion. Words of Wisdom: "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." —by Khalil Gibran✨ UNO Souls are beacons of light in our community that can be guides for how to cope through this collective moment of change. I would love to chat with you – please reach out! I honor the light in all of you.  

I am honored today to be chatting with Ben Honda— an UNO Soul. He is the Customer Success Account Executive at Aunt Bertha.Aunt Bertha is Public Benefit Corporation and operates as a non-profit corporation. It was created in 2010 to offer an easier way to find social services to connect them directly and electronically. Their network connects people seeking help and verified social care providers that serve them. Aunt Bertha has since built the largest network of free and reduced-cost programs in every zip code across the United States. The mission of Aunt Bertha is to connect all people in need and the programs that serve them, with dignity and ease. (www.auntbertha.com)As a note of interest, the founder, Erine Gray, who lives in Texas, created Aunt Bertha when he realized how hard it was for his aging mother, in the Northeast, to find the services she needed, and he wasn’t living near her to help her. Words of wisdom: “People are not going to remember what you said or did. They are going to remember how you made them feel.” By Maya Angelou✨ UNO Souls are beacons of light in our community that can be guides for how to cope through this collective moment of change. I would love to chat with you – please reach out! I honor the light in all of you.  

I am honored today to be chatting with Tony Howard – an UNO Soul. He is the President of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.Tony has been an inspiring leader for 15 years in the Loudoun County community. He is wise as well as having a great sense of humor! He and his team at the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce are doing a phenomenal job. His kindness and compassion shows in how he has helped and guided the businesses during this year.Words of wisdom: “Just enjoy the ride.” Thank you for chatting with me, Tony! We are grateful for you! ✨ UNO Souls are beacons of light in our community that can be guides for how to cope through this collective moment of change. I would love to chat with you – please reach out! I honor the light in all of you.

I am honored today to be chatting with Katy Gaughan – an UNO Soul. She is a drummer & drum circle facilitator and trainer who provides drumming for wellness programs for all populations in the DC area.Katy is a talented and creative drum circle facilitator in the Washington, DC area. She is a musician and a certified drum circle facilitator. She runs retreats (pre-COVID), participates in many community engagement events, marches, works with senior citizens, and many other populations. She is a very kind, compassionate, gentle, and wise person. She makes people feel at home and like they belong. We are so lucky to have her in our community! This is her website, Katy Gaughan Drumming for Wellness: http://www.katygaughan.com Thank you for chatting with me, Katy! We are grateful for you! ✨ UNO Souls are beacons of light in our community that can be guides for how to cope through this collective moment of change. I would love to chat with you – please reach out! I honor the light in all of you.

I am honored today to be chatting with Ashley Reynolds Marshall – an UNO Soul. She is the CEO of the YWCA of Central Virginia and the Chair of the Virginia Women’s Council.Ashley is an inspiring leader in the nonprofit community of the Commonwealth of Virginia. She embodies the mission of YWCA of Central Virginia: YWCA USA is on a mission to eliminate racism, empower women, stand up for social justice, help families, and strengthen communities. They are one of the oldest and largest women’s organizations in the nation, serving over 2 million women, girls, and their families. She is a compassionate, wise, and a true leader. She is truly a bright light. Ashley holds a B.A in Psychology from Hollins University, a J.D from the College of William & Mary School of Law, and an M.P.A. from Virginia Tech. Currently, Ashley is also currently a Ph.D. student at the Center for Public Administration and Policy at Virginia Tech, working on her dissertation focused on Corporate Social Responsibility and Collective Impact/Collaborative Programming. She is a member of the 2013 class of the Sorenson Institute Political Leaders Program at the University of Virginia and a member of the 2014 class of Emerge Virginia. Thank you for chatting with me, Ashley! We are grateful for you! ✨ UNO Souls are beacons of light in our community that can be guides for how to cope through this collective moment of change. I would love to chat with you – please reach out! I honor the light in all of you.

I am honored today to be chatting with Dr. Irma Becerra – an UNO Soul. She is the President of Marymount University. Irma is an inspiring leader in the education community of the Washington, DC area. She has a beautiful heart, she is compassionate, wise, and a true leader. A Cuban-born American, Irma immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was an infant, living in Puerto Rico through high school. Those formative experiences ignited her mind, imbuing her with a passion for knowledge along with a deep-seated belief that “no one can take away your education.” She earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Miami and went on to become the first woman to earn a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Florida International University (FIU). Marymount University is one of the most diverse universities in the region and they just became a Hispanic-serving institution in the last year with 25% of the university populations being Hispanic or of Hispanic-descent. Marymount University is very lucky to have her.Thank you for chatting with me, Irmal! We are grateful for you! ✨ UNO Souls are beacons of light in our community that can be guides for how to cope through this collective moment of change. I would love to chat with you – please reach out! I honor the light in all of you.