The online news publication Madsion365 has placed Prof. Mariana Pacheco Ortiz on its list of the 46 most influential Latino leaders in Wisconsin. Every year since its founding in 2015, Madison365 has compiled this list to recognize the achievements of influential leaders of color in the state. A former bilingual (English-Spanish) teacher in Southern California, Dr. Pacheco studies meaningful opportunities for bi/multilingual and English Learner students to use their full linguistic resources for literacy learning and self-determination. She employs ethnographic and anthropological methods to understand sociopolitical and sociocultural processes related to language, teaching, learning, and curriculum. Her work contributes to theorizations and empirical knowledge of policies, programs, pedagogies, and practices that amplify what ‘counts’ as knowledge and that enhance bi/multilingual students’ academic potential through asset-based and strength-based educational practices, particularly for Chican@/Latin@ students. A professor of Curriculum and Instruction since 2006, Dr. Pacheco is a longtime CLS affiliate and current chair of the Program’s Faculty Development Committee. ¡Felicidades, Mariana!