This story was written in partnership with LINK nky, Northern Kentucky University’s Advanced News Media Workshop class and The Northerner for this series on the changing face of Northern Kentucky.

Read the other stories in the series here:

• The face of Northern Kentucky: ‘It’s starting to look different’ by LINK nky’s Haley Parnell
• Breaking bread at immigrant-founded restaurants by The Northerner’s Isabella Huecker
• Congolese native’s journey inspires hope for others by The Northerner’s Elita St. Clair
• Five international markets share a slice of home by The Northerner’s Elita St. Clair (with video)

Two years ago, Leo Calderón retired from NKU after serving over three decades as director of Latino Student Initiatives. After so many years in the role, Calderón left an impact on the Latino community both on campus and off, and his retirement left many wondering who could fill his shoes. 

Tiburcio Lince, a Texas native, stepped up and worked to bring “alegría,” or “joy,” to the department. 

Lince graduated from Texas State University with a master’s degree in Spanish philology – the study of Spanish culture, history and language. Before coming to NKU in June 2022, Lince was the director of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and International Programs at Tarleton State University in Texas. 

“As I stepped into the role as director of Latino Student Initiatives, I had found that there had been a lot of work done already by the previous director,” Lince said. “One of the things that I had the wonderful opportunity of was to really give it my own spin.”

One way that Lince said he first did this was with the preexisting mentorship program within LSI called Latinos Avanzando Mentorship Program or LAMP. His goal was to redefine LAMP as a program not just for first-year students, but for everyone, including alumni. 

“The way that we did it was using a family structure,” Lince said. “Second-year students, they become our ‘primos,’ or cousins. Once the students graduate, they become our ‘tíos,’ or uncles or aunties, and they still come back to our events.”

Toward the end of the spring semester, students and alumni gathered for what used to be known as the Latino Student Recognition Banquet. Since Lince’s start at NKU, he has rebranded this banquet as the Alegría Latino Achievement Celebration. The event highlights the work of various Latino student organizations on campus and in the community, awards students who are involved and progressing in LSI and celebrates the graduation of Latino students.

“The joy that our students have in accomplishing things, serving the community, is completely unmatched,” Lince said. “I wanted all of those things to be reflected by Alegría.”

Caryn Connelly, chair of the World Languages and Literatures department and a Spanish professor at NKU, said that changing the celebration to Alegría is “just a little slice” of what Lince has brought to NKU so far. 

Lince teaches a Spanish 101 class at NKU, along with being the director of LSI, and, according to Connelly, has discussed teaching vocational Spanish as well. Lince taught similar courses for law enforcement and educators at Tarleton State University for almost two years. Connelly said that she looks forward to the Spanish department’s collaborating more with LSI in the future. 

Theresa Cruz, founder of Fiesta NKY, worked with Calderón during his time at NKU and now works closely with Lince since he stepped into the role. Fiesta is a nonprofit organization that helps connect migrant and refugee communities to needed services in Northern Kentucky. 

One way Cruz and Lince have collaborated so far is through a mentorship program at Ignite Institute.

“We mentor a group of about 25-30 Hispanic students,” Cruz said. “[Lince] has been helping them to set goals, find out what they want to do, help them find how to go to college.”

Lince also was the keynote speaker at the Fiesta annual community event last year. 

“He’s one of those people that you’re just immediately pulled toward,” Cruz said about Lince. “He’s just got that personality.”

Connelly echoed Cruz’s thoughts on Lince. “It’s been a good transition to new leadership, the type of person that Tiburcio is.”