Meet our team of bilingual experts!

Allwyn Ávalos
Bilingual Call Center Representative
- Over 8 years of experience in education, focusing on bilingual student support.
- Holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Alliance University and is passionate about helping students succeed academically.
- Committed to supporting Spanish-speaking students in his role as a Bilingual Call Center Representative, assisting with questions on financial aid, student accounts, and registration.

Luis José Camacho, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor of Business, International Business, and Marketing
- Assistant Professor of International Business and Marketing with decades of experience, serving as the Academic Coordinator for the Spanish BBA program.
- Holds a Doctor of Education in distance education and instructional technology, a master’s degree in marketing, and a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
- Specializes in teaching marketing, international business, and sustainability, preparing students for success in a global environment.

Lyanne García-Boswell
IT Support Specialist
- Nearly 5 years of experience in higher education, educational technology, and student support, focusing on underrepresented students.
- Holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish language and literature from SUNY Potsdam.
- Committed to their role as an IT Support Specialist by offering students guidance, tech support troubleshooting, and connections to Spanish-language resources.

Silvia Mejía, Ph.D.
Director of Spanish Language Programs
- Director of Spanish Language Programs with over 20 years of experience in higher education.
- Holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature and an M.A. in contemporary Latin American literature from the University of Maryland, College Park.
- Leads the development of the Spanish BBA at SUNY Empire, drawing on her background as an Ecuadorian immigrant and her commitment to empowering Spanish-speaking students.

Liv Thygesen
Bilingual Disability Specialist and Student Veteran Association Club (SVAC) Executive Board Disability Liaison
- Bilingual Disability Specialist at SUNY Empire with a diverse background, including service as a U.S. Marine Corps aviation electrician.
- Holds dual bachelor's degrees in Spanish and education from The College of Saint Rose and a master's in education (ESL) from Meredith College.
- In her role with the Spanish BBA, Liv assists students in accessing resources to remove barriers due to disabilities, advocating for equitable access to education.

María Vega
Bilingual Student Success Coordinator
- Bilingual Student Success Coordinator with over 18 years of experience in higher education.
- Holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from SUNY Brockport and a master’s degree in student personnel administration from SUNY Buffalo.
- Focused on student success and support for bilingual and Spanish-speaking students and passionate about connecting with students in their native language.