Veronica Martinez (she, her) received her MA in Speech Communication in 1997 from California State University, Hayward. From 1997-2008 Veronica taught at a variety of bay area campuses, teaching public speaking (for native or non-native speakers), interpersonal communication, voice improvement, interviewing, conflict management, business presentations, and small group communication. In Fall 2008, Veronica was hired at Chabot College, where she continues to teach a variety of Communication Studies classes, supervises the Communication Studies Lab, serves on Faculty Senate, is part of the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), mentors in the Puente Program, and co-coordinates the Indigenous Peoples Education Association (IPEA). Veronica has spent most of her life living and working in Hayward. She is Mexican American and an enrolled member of the Amah Mutsun tribe.