Kyla Esguerra (she/her/hers) received her Master's degree in English from the University of Notre Dame and undergraduate degrees in English and Psychology from Hope College. At UWM, she was a Lecturer in the English department and with the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program before becoming Associate Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research in 2008, and Deputy Director in 2015. She has served as an elected Councilor in the Undergraduate Research Program Director division of the national Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) and an elected member of the executive board of the Wisconsin System Council on Undergraduate Research (WiSCUR).  She is also part of the instructional team for the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program. She has been active in academic staff governance committees at UWM and serves as co-chair of the Care, Respect and Expression standing committee. Off campus, she enjoys spending time with family and supporting local music.