Xiomara Rodriguez is a Bilingual Research Associate/Project Assistant for the New York State Statewide Language Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (RBERN) at New York University's Metro Center. A first generation, Dominican-American, college graduate, Ms. Rodriguez holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Columbia University, where she was a member of the Serrano’s Scholars Program in Foreign Affairs. Ms. Rodriguez began her work in academia as an enrollment specialist for international students, and went on to work at BMCC and Hunter College, CUNY. Xiomara has worked in Bilingual Education at NYSED for almost fifteen years. And in May of 2020, Xiomara earned her Master's Degree in Higher Education & Student Affairs (with a focus on Social Justice) at NYU Steinhardt's Department of Administration, Leadership, and Technology.