Latinx Heritage Month Staff Feature: Leanna Ordoñez
Written by Katie Chandler, photos by Sinjin Delmore
Leanna Ordoñez, lead graphic designer
At Sartorial we believe that who you are and where you come from is important. Every person on our team comes from a different culture, giving them a unique perspective.
Each heritage month we will be featuring staff and community members of their respective cultures. To celebrate Latinx month, September 15th to October 15th, our first feature will be on Sartorial staff member Leanna Ordoñez.
Growing up a California native, Ordoñez never envisioned herself attending a school in the midwest. It wasn’t until after her sister left California and moved to Missouri that she began checking out schools in the area.
“Missouri State had such an inclusive, creative, friendly feel compared to other colleges in the state- I didn't want to give that up.”
Ordoñez, now a junior at MSU, studies graphic design while serving as Sartorial’s lead graphic designer. She is also a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority.
After initially joining Sartorial for the career and social opportunities, Ordoñez has now found an outlet to grow her artistic abilities. She also has the opportunity to collaborate on, “so many different ideas, talents, and stories." Ordoñez creates graphics for articles and events for Sartorial.
Despite being hundreds of miles from home and a first-generation college student, Ordoñez knows that being a part of the Latinx community means she is never truly alone — no matter where life takes her. One of her most cherished memories is taking turns mixing the maize dough for tamales, surrounded by family on Christmas.
“Being Latinx means embracing the culture I grew up in,” she said. “It means being proud of who I am. It means learning more of my culture and learning what my ancestors did to get me to this point.”
In a world that is always telling women who they should be and what they can do, Leanna hopes to share the message to younger Latinx women that they should be proud of their ethnicity and who they are.
“Your ethnicity and culture shape you to become who you are. It differentiates you from people around you. It makes you, you.”
Ordoñez is guided by her favorite quote from Friday Kahlo, “Soy del tip de mujer que si quiero la luna, me lo bajo yo solita” translated to “I am the type of woman that if I want the moon, I will bring it down myself.” Leanna wants to be an inspiration to others but more importantly, to herself.
Check out some of Leanna's graphics for Sartorial on these stories