About Me

Tell us a little about yourself!

What is your full name, and what name do you prefer to go by? How do pronounce it phonetically?

Natalia Lucero, but I like to go by Naty. My name is pronounced nah-tee... like "Do prefer coffee?" "Nahhh...tea is preferred" :D

Which pronouns to do you prefer? (e.g. she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/their)

She/her/hers

What is your birthday? Are you OK with having your birthday publicly acknowledged/celebrated?

October 24th! Yes!

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Madison! I immigrated here when I was 2 1/2 after my family won the Diversity Visa Lottery in Peru.

Did you have any fun nicknames while growing up? Do you have any now? What is the origin (if you feel comfortable sharing)?

Naty, Natskers, and Nat by my sister, but my everyone else in my family calls me by my middle name which is Belen. So... Belencita, Belenchita, B. The names just kinda happened?

What holidays do you celebrate (if any)?

Birthdays, Anniversaries, Noche Buena (Christmas), New Years

Academics

What is your academic life like?

What year in school are you?

I'm no longer in school. Sometimes I miss it but most of the time I'm thankful to be done with it for now even though I'm considering getting a Masters degree in the near future.

When do you expect to graduate?

I graduated December 2017 but walked with my fiance and best friends in May 2018!

What is your major? How did you choose that?

Communication Arts: Radio, Television, Film & Environmental Studies. I've always been interested in the power of media to amplify a message. After I took CA155, my life changed for the better because Professor Hoyt was THE BEST. I also enjoy learning how different environments develop communities and individuals.

Do you know what you'd like to do after you graduate?

Keep working here!

Interests

What do you like to do when you're not in class/working for STS?

Netflix/Hulu it up, make crafts, nap, rest under a sunny spot, play piano

What do you like to do for fun?

All of the above; and play with our neighbor's cats even though I'm allergic. They're worth the allergic struggle.

Do you have any hobbies or groups that you participate in?

I'm part of the Information Technology Academy Advisory Board. ITA is a pre-college program that I was a part of in high school. I was also an ITA instructor for 3.5 years while in undergrad.

Do you have any other jobs or internships?

Nope, just this one and I'm super ok with that!

Any exciting plans for summer/winter break?

I'm getting married and going to Iceland in May! My soon to be husband will be starting medical school here in August so that will also be exciting!

Neat Facts

What are some interesting, unexpected, or surprising facts about yourself?

Many people don't know I'm fluent in Spanish until I mention birthplace. I definitely feel more comfortable with English, but I appreciate being able to communicate verbally with my parents and family in Peru.

I'm a member of the Kappa Gamma Chapter of Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority Inc., a multicultural Greek sorority here on campus.

I LOVE parenting books. I'm obsessed with learning how children's brains develop through exposure of different languages and environments.

I studied abroad in Costa Rica for a semester and did a research project on neotropical jumping spiders. My jumping spider babies have since won a few photography contests and got featured in the Wisconsin State Journal!

What is something that might surprise someone who just met you?

My age. Youths apparently think I'm 30 (lol what?), while many of my colleagues thought I was a freshman in college when they first met me...they low key still probably think I'm in my teens.

Where is somewhere you have always wanted to travel?

Madagascar!

Have you ever met anyone famous?

Just in concerts...several rows away

Life at STS

Talk a little bit about your time with STS

What is your favorite topic to teach?

Illustrator

What is something you are interested in learning?

InDesign and Revit

What has been the most challenging part of working at STS?

Trying to schedule all trainers for one event. Omg. All of your schedules are intense and don't usually align easily with one another!

Miscellaneous

Other potentially interesting bits of information about yourself