HLLC leaders share a passion and commitment to recognizing and amplifying the dynamic talents of each HLLC scholar. They have a unique perspective on the path of the HLLC scholars, because for many of them, that path was one they embarked on many years ago. Today, the special community that is the HLLC leadership inspires students as thought leaders in both the academic and social world. They are educators, researchers, authors, social activists, and counselors who have a passion for subjects ranging from LGBTQ rights, community development, mentorship, advocating for undocumented and underserved students, cultural competence, equity in higher education, and, above all, championing and supporting their students’ future leadership.

Jason Cortés, Ph.D.
Dean, Honors Living-Learning Community
Associate Professor of Spanish and American Studies
jasoncor@newark.rutgers.edu

Dr. Cortés serves as Dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community and Associate Professor of Spanish and American Studies at Rutgers University–Newark. A scholar of Caribbean and Latinx cultural studies, his research examines the intersections of literature, gender, violence, and critical theory. He holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, and both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Penn State University. Prior to joining Rutgers, he held academic appointments at Yale University, Brown University, and UMass Boston. 

Dr. Cortés is the author of Macho Ethics: Masculinity and Self-Representation in Latino-Caribbean Narrative (Bucknell University Press, 2014), and his current book project, Haunted Americas: Horror, Violence, and the New Transnational Boom, explores the resurgence of horror as a critical mode for addressing colonial histories, gendered violence, and cultural memory across the Americas. As Dean, he provides strategic leadership for HLLC, advancing its national profile as a model for socially engaged honors education and fostering integrative approaches to student learning, research, and community engagement.  

Marta Esquilin
Associate Dean of the Honors Living-Learning Community
Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, History
marta.esquilin@rutgers.edu

Marta Elena Esquilin is the Associate Dean of the HLLC and Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the American Studies Program within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers-Newark. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Vermont in 1999, and her Master’s Degree in 2003 from Teachers College, Columbia University in Higher Education Administration. In 2005, under the leadership of Dr. Derald Wing Sue within the Counseling & Psychology department at Teachers College, she was a co-author of the seminal article, “Racial microaggressions in everyday life: Implications for clinical practice.” American Psychologist, 62(4), 271-286. From 2005 to 2015, Marta served as the Director of Social Justice and Intercultural Programs within the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Columbia University. Prior to her role at Columbia, she worked at The Posse Foundation and in a variety of community based organizations focused on youth development, college access & equity, and community building. She is currently the Board chair of CLAGS (Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies), the oldest LGBTQ research center in the country, and she is the first Latina to serve in this role. She works as a diversity expert and consultant within educational settings including secondary schools, community-based organizations, and higher education institutions around the United States.

Marta’s passion and current work focuses on creating educational environments that encourage the positive development and success of all students. She is particularly interested in raising awareness about how microaggressions manifest to create hostile environments for marginalized social identities within work and school settings. Most recently, she has been developing trainings and assessment tools aimed at increasing cultural competence, addressing the impacts of microaggressions, and creating sustainable infrastructures to support student success within educational settings. Her work aims to equip administrators, faculty, staff and students with the skills necessary for creating environments that are affirming to all identities and experiences.

Engelbert Santana
Dean of Advisement
Lecturer, Spanish and Portuguese Studies 
engelbert.santana@rutgers.edu

Engelbert Santana is the Dean of Advisement for the Honors Living-Learning Community at Rutgers University-Newark. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, in 2005 and a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from the Rutgers University Graduate School of Education in 2008. Before joining the HLLC, Engelbert served in various roles at Rutgers University-Newark. He first served as an Assessment Counselor with the Student Support Services Program (2005-2009). He then transitioned to the Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program (2009-2016) as a Senior Counselor, advising ambitious first-generation, low-income college students in successfully navigating their collegiate experiences and post-graduation goals.

Professionally and personally, Engelbert is a passionate advocate and staunch supporter of programs and initiatives that provide access and opportunities for marginalized students whose talents are overlooked by higher education institutions. He constantly advocates for opportunities for undocumented students and has given numerous workshops focusing on access to higher education, best practices, and development initiatives for underrepresented students. In addition to his administrative role at Rutgers University-Newark, Engelbert is a Part-Time Lecturer in the Spanish and Portuguese Department, where he teaches Intro to Latin@/x Cultural Studies.

Macsu Hill, Ph.D.
Director of Special Projects
hillma@rutgers.edu

Macsu A. Hill, PhD, MPH, CHES, is the Director of Special Projects within the Honors Living-Learning Community. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Saint Peter’s University, a Master’s degree in Public Health from Rutgers University, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership, Management, and Policy from Seton Hall University.   

 Prior to joining the HLLC, Macsu worked at the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center, Rutgers School of Nursing where she served as a Program Manager for a three-year, 13-million dollar Special Project of National Significance (SPNS) to improve the screening and treatment of sexually transmitted infectious among people with HIV as part of multi-state, multi-site clinical initiative of Health Resources and Services Administration. Macsu has 14 years experience in higher education, and 10 years of experience in designing and implementing effective, community-level activities targeting marginalized populations in academic and non-profit settings. In this role, she worked with the National Network of STD Clinical Prevention Training Centers (NNPTCs) to provide all staff and provider training on culturally appropriate, stigma-free, welcoming health care services for diverse and low-income populations. 

Macsu is an avid advocate for educational and foundational skills to reduce disparities in youth productivity, social justice, as well as health outcomes that vulnerable populations face both domestically and globally. Macsu recently became certified as a Diversity Champion Ambassador through Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences Building Bridges for Impact and Growth program in Newark, New Jersey. This opportunity allows her to advocate for policy change to promote and evaluate diversity, equity, and inclusion among institutions of higher education. 

Macsu was a Visiting Scholar at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. She co-developed and co-instructed graduate level curricula on effective leadership in higher education. Macsu’s research explores race and gender congruence in mentoring relationships among doctoral students, post-doctoral students, and faculty and the impact on student pursuit of research versus non-research careers (i.e., students with gender and racial congruence with their professors/mentors were more likely to pursue research careers). 

Mary Ann Vargas, M.Ed.
Senior Student Program Coordinator
maryann.vargas@rutgers.edu

Mary Ann Vargas serves as the Senior Student Program Coordinator for the Honors Living-Learning Community at Rutgers University–Newark. Since joining the HLLC in November 2024, she has led the planning and coordination of the admissions cycle while supporting student leadership, community-building initiatives, and programs aligned with the HLLC mission of social justice, civic engagement, and transformative education.

Mary Ann earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media Arts and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies from Montclair State University and completed her Master’s Degree in College Student Affairs at Rutgers University–New Brunswick in May 2024.

Her passion for student affairs began during her undergraduate experience as an EOF scholar, where she quickly became involved in mentoring and student leadership. Throughout her time at Rutgers, she served in a variety of roles across Undergraduate Admissions, the Center for Student Involvement, University College, Residence Life, and peer mentorship programs. These experiences strengthened her commitment to supporting students through mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement.

Professionally, Mary Ann has worked with the Department of Student Centers and Activities, the Paul Robeson Cultural Center, Pre-College Programs at Wentworth Institute of Technology, and the Rutgers Honors College, where she supported first-generation college students through peer mentorship initiatives.

Mary Ann is passionate about creating inclusive, community-centered learning experiences that empower students to think critically, engage across differences, and advocate for social change at both the local and global levels.

Yina A. Díaz
Program Coordinator
yd510@newark.rutgers.edu

Yina A. Díaz serves as Program Coordinator II for the Honors Living-Learning Community at Rutgers University–Newark. Since joining the HLLC in 2025, she has provided operational, administrative, and programmatic support across a wide range of initiatives and student-centered programs.

In her role, Yina supports the coordination of departmental operations, events, communications, and cross-campus collaborations that strengthen the HLLC student experience. Her work contributes to the program’s mission of fostering student engagement, retention, leadership development, and inclusive excellence.

Through thoughtful coordination and attention to detail, Yina helps ensure the successful implementation of HLLC initiatives while supporting the program’s long-term goals and commitment to community-centered learning.