Hispanic Heritage Month | Crew Spotlight

Illiana Luna

Public Relations Specialist

“Many firsts in my career have happened at Space Center Houston because of the opportunities I have found myself in. From crafting my first CEO quote to writing a script for Apollo Flight Director Gene Kranz – I am forever grateful to have contributed to one of the nation’s leading science and space exploration learning centers, and the many walks of lives that enter through it.

I hope to inspire and encourage the Hispanic community to always reach for the Moon and stars because your contributions matter. Spread your magic and si tu puedes!”

Aaron Rodriguez

Visual Information Specialist

“Representation is important and I am proud to be a Latino in this industry and bring my unique perspective to it. Not only do I hope to inspire others in the Hispanic community to become involved in STEM and space exploration, but I hope to set a good example for my daughters to become involved. Through my talents, I hope to show them that there are other people like them in this industry and that anything is possible if you have passion and work hard towards your goals.”

Erica Martinez

Event Sales Coordinator

“In my role as the Event Sales Coordinator at Space Center Houston, I’ve had the privilege of being the initial point of contact for assisting our clients in hosting events here. As a Hispanic woman, building a successful career that gives me the opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders such as Indeed, Chevron, Anheuser Busch, and many others is an honor. The most rewarding part of my position is playing a role in selling, organizing, and executing events with my team. I hope to encourage the Hispanic Community to purse their dreams, and anything is possible.”

Óscar Neira

Spanish Language Programs Specialist

“The work I’m doing at Space Center Houston is a source of immense pride and passion for me. Being an educator, I am filled with a sense of wonder and excitement as I contribute to making Space Center Houston more accessible through the Spanish programs and participants. My favorite part of my role is that I’m giving back what my country did for me. It gave me what is necessary to be part of one of the most recognized science centers and create new opportunities for Hispanic communities. I incorporate my cultural background into educational programs, projects, research, and exhibitions, providing a more diverse and inclusive view of science.”

En español
“El trabajo que estoy haciendo en el Centro Espacial de Houston es una fuente de inmenso orgullo y pasión para mí. Como educador, me siento con gran sensación de asombro y entusiasmo al contribuir que el Centro Espacial sea más accesible a través de los programas en español y sus participantes. Mi parte favorita de mi rol es que estoy devolviendo lo que mi país hizo por mí. Me dio lo necesario para ser parte de uno de los centros de ciencias más reconocidos y crear nuevas oportunidades para las comunidades hispanas. Incorporo mi formación cultural en programas educativos, proyectos, investigaciones y exposiciones, brindando una visión más diversa e inclusiva de la ciencia.”

Ann Hernandez

Director of Leadership Programs and Inclusion

“As the Director of Leadership Programs and Inclusion, I get to help people of all ages feel connected to space and think of how to apply the lessons from NASA and space companies to their daily lives, professionally and personally. As a learning organization, we continuously discover more about our global community and look for ways to increase accessibility for Latinx/o/a peoples. As a mixed-race Latina, I don’t always feel represented in every environment, but I am proud to work in an organization and public learning center that prioritizes inclusion, allowing each person to see themselves in the space world.”