Veronica Arreola

Veronica I. Arreola is the assistant director of the Center for Research on Women and Gender and the director of the Women in Science and Engineering program at the University of Illinois at Chicago where she also earned both her degrees. Arreola holds a bachelors degree in Biological Sciences and a masters in Public Administration, both with concentrations in Gender and Women’s Studies. Her office was recognized with a Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring for their mentoring programs in the Chicago community and on the UIC campus.

Arreola is an active member of local and national feminist organizations.She is a founding board member of Women In Media & News and a current Advisory Board member of Bitch Media. Arreola has worked with organizations such as the Chicago Abortion Fund, National Organization for Women, Women Employed and the Chicago Foundation for Women. A veteran blogger, she helped launch the Planned Parenthood Action Illinois blog in 2007. Today she is a featured blogger at Girl w/Pen and hosts her own award-winning blog, Viva la Feminista, where she discusses the intersection between feminist activism and motherhood. Her writing has been featured in Bitch magazine, Ms. Magazine, NPR.org, Chicago Sun-Times and RH Reality Check. She is a frequent speaker on all things feminist, especially education equity, reproductive justice, social media and parenting. Her honors include being named as UIC's 2007 Woman of the Year by the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women for her professional and volunteer activities on and off campus, received a 2010 Chicago Foundation for Women Impact Award and a 2010 graduate of Leadership Illinois. A die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, Arreola lives on the north side of Chicago with her husband, daughter, and their dachshunds.

Current Affiliations: Assistant Director, Center for Research on Women and Gender, University of Illinois at Chicago *Director, Women in Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago Advisory Board, Bitch Media Board Member, Women in Media and News Blogger, Girl w/Pen

Past Affiliations: Academic Advisor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago Blogger, Planned Parenthood Chicago Area, Kenneth Cole AWARENESS, others Co-Board Chair, Chicago Abortion Fund