Noche Latina Kicks Off Roger Williams University’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrations

September 23, 2026By Grace Monteleone '27

Students fill the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business atrium with movement during Noche Latina, dancing together as RWU kicks off its Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.

BRISTOL, R.I. - Hispanic Heritage Month is underway at Roger Williams University, with students gathering on Sept. 18 for Noche Latina, a celebration of Hispanic and Latin American cultures through food, dance, and community.

Students line up to sample food served during Noche Latina.

Held in the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business atrium, Noche Latina was hosted by the Hispanic and Latinx Student Association (HALSA) in collaboration with the Multicultural Student Union (MSU), World Organization of Cultural Clubs, and Health and Wellness Educators. The event opened RWU's celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which is observed from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

For HALSA members, the evening offered an opportunity to celebrate their heritage while sharing their cultures with the broader RWU community.

"This means a lot because we get to share our heritage and show parts of our culture to the Roger campus," said HALSA's Public Relations Officer Shantie Deida, a senior Sustainability Studies major on the Ecology & Environmental Management track and Marine Biology minor from West Haven, Conn. "It's good to include anybody and everybody to share the culture."

The event also provided a sense of belonging for students who identify with Hispanic and Latin American cultures.

HALSA President Samanta Arevalo, a senior Marketing and Public Relations double major and Public Humanities & Arts minor from Cranston, R.I., said the organization has helped her find community at RWU.

"It's hard sometimes to find a community, but being in HALSA helps me feel at home," Arevalo said. "It's having events like this to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month that has been a great thing since my freshman year."

Dance lessons were a highlight of Noche Latina. Junior Instructor Mandie Vega-Ayala, who is Puerto Rican, returned to RWU for a second year to lead students through merengue, bachata, and salsa.

Students follow along with Junior Instructor Mandie Vega-Ayala during a dance lesson in the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business atrium as part of Noche Latina.

For Vega-Ayala, teaching dance is about more than learning the steps. She said understanding the cultural context and traditions behind the dances is an important part of the experience.

"One thing we really strive for is not only showing you how to dance, but giving you the why," Vega-Ayala said. "Why we are doing it, and the importance of being diverse."

Noche Latina is among the events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at RWU through Oct. 15, giving students opportunities to celebrate their cultures while inviting the wider university community to learn and participate. Students can follow HALSA and MSU on social media for updates on upcoming programs.