For Esteban Vazquez-Hidalgo, Hispanic Heritage Month is more than an annual observance. His Mexican heritage is part of his everyday life—from his first language and family traditions to the foods he prepares and the communities he helps build.
Born in Mexico and raised in the United States, Vazquez-Hidalgo became the first member of his extended family to graduate from college and earn a PhD. In 2022, he left his hometown of San Diego, California, and moved to Cleveland. The transition meant leaving behind the family and community that had supported him throughout his journey—and beginning the difficult process of creating a new sense of belonging.
In 2023, Vazquez-Hidalgo joined Case Western Reserve University as a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences at the School of Medicine. Since arriving, he has actively sought opportunities to connect with and support others. He serves as co-president of the CWRU Postdoctoral Association and participates in the university’s chapter of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science.
His commitment to mentorship and community engagement also extends beyond his academic role. Vazquez-Hidalgo has participated in initiatives such as MathCorp SuperSaturdays, Math Movement Summers and La Alianza coffee meetups.
Food remains one of the most meaningful ways he maintains and shares his cultural identity. Mole—particularly the slightly spicy version his mother, who is from Sonora, prepares—brings back memories of time spent with her in the kitchen. By sharing mole, Mexican rice and freshly made corn tortillas, he can offer others not only a meal but also a connection to his family’s traditions.
Día de los Muertos is another tradition of deep personal significance. Vazquez-Hidalgo celebrates by baking pan de muerto, decorating with papel picado and growing cempasúchiles, the vibrant Mexican marigolds closely associated with the holiday. He also honors his mother’s birthday, which falls near Día de Reyes, by preparing a traditional rosca instead of a birthday cake.
Through these practices, Vazquez-Hidalgo carries pieces of home with him while creating new connections in Cleveland. He also encourages others to understand the diversity contained within the term “Hispanic.” Hispanic communities encompass many countries, histories, languages and combinations of African, Indigenous and European ancestry. Even individuals from the same country may have markedly different traditions and experiences.
For Vazquez-Hidalgo, appreciating that complexity is essential. Hispanic Heritage Month provides an opportunity for people to pause, listen and learn—but the heritage it celebrates is lived throughout the entire year.
This profile was adapted and rewritten from “Hispanic Heritage Month: Meet three Hispanic members of the CWRU community,” written by Brianna Smith and published by the Case Western Reserve University Newsroom on September 15, 2026.
