Dr. Crystal M. Soltero
A former secondary history teacher, Dr. Soltero is the Director of the Leadership and Learning Innovation (LLI) Major and Adolescents, Community, and Education (ACE) Minor. She teaches in the Elementary Education program and leads a large internship program for students in both LLI and ACE. Soltero is a member of the Holocaust Education Taskforce for Jewish History Museum & Holocaust Center in Tucson and is a member of the National Council for the Social Studies.
"The most rewarding work I do is related to the strong connections I have built with people across campus and in the community of Tucson."
Take a moment to view this one-minute video introducing the Leadership and Learning Innovation Major.
A B.S. degree in Leadership and Learning Innovation prepares students with the skills to be innovators and leaders in a variety of education and industry settings, including business, nonprofit management, youth services, local and state government, higher education, policy, and community outreach initiatives. Students also have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience through internships at local, national, and international organizations. This flexible degree is also frequently used to prepare for a wide variety of graduate degrees.
Crystal is always asking people to reach out to her directly if they know of high-quality internship opportunities either here on campus or elsewhere (summer, fall, and spring). Connecting students with amazing internships and experiences that will build their resumes and further their future leadership opportunities is one of the most rewarding things she does. She has found that connecting students directly with people in different units and organizations is always the best way to help them. She likes to have an ongoing list of organizations who routinely want interns from our program. Take look at some of the LLI alumni!
"Be kind to others. Take time to really talk to people and learn their stories."
What is your favorite person or quote that inspires you as a woman?
This is a hard task for a former high school history teacher! There are SO MANY women whose stories inspire me! In teaching social studies methods for TLS, my list of amazing women continues to grow! From Ida B. Wells to Irena Sendler to Delores Huerta, I am most inspired by the bravery of women who have been willing to stand up for the rights of others, even when it was costly. I recently came across the little-known story of Grace Lorch; I will try to give you the abbreviated version, but there is so much more than this! Grace and her husband Lee were housing activists in New York City. When Grace and Lee allowed a black family to live as guests in their apartment, Lee lost his job as a math professor, and they were forced to move. Several years later they arrived in Little Rock, became members of the local NAACP, and were directly involved in the Little Rock Nine’s efforts to desegregate Central High School. On that first day, Elizabeth Eckford didn’t get the message to walk to school as a group. Grace was the white woman who escorted Elizabeth Eckford home and out of all that ugliness. From then on, Grace’s kindness toward Eckford made her and her family a target for harassment in Little Rock. Eventually Grace’s husband was blacklisted, and they ultimately moved to Canada.
What obstacles or opportunities have you experienced related to being a woman or to your gender identity?
One of the earliest examples of this was when I told my college advisor that I wanted to teach high school. He came right out and told me that he didn’t think a young woman like me could “handle” the demands of secondary teaching. It felt so good to prove him wrong!
What encouragement and advice would you give to students or women in your profession, especially those trying to build a career?
Be kind to others. Take time to really talk to people and learn their stories. Never underestimate the power of good relationships at all levels of the university workplace. The most rewarding work I do at the university is related to the years and years of strong connections I have built with people across campus and in the community of Tucson. And---be humble. Ask questions when you don’t understand! Thank others for the ways they help you and be willing to do the same for others. The university is a big place, but it can be made smaller by taking the time to really know and appreciate all the people who make it work!
ARE YOU A CURRENT LLI STUDENT OR A STUDENT INTERESTED IN CONSIDERING THIS MAJOR?
Dr. Soltero is also hosting a networking event on April 16th. It is a chance for current and graduating students to network with alums and to see the many ways they can use this degree after graduation. Crystal is hoping faculty will encourage their current LLI students to attend as well as students who might be interested in adding this major. It’s a multi-purpose event to celebrate grads, network, and hopefully recruit! Faculty can come as well!