Celebrating Hispanic Heritage: International Education Project Manager Lysette Davi Honored as an Arizona Champion

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage, the University of Arizona recognized International Education Project Manager Lysette Davi as an Arizona Champion during the NAU vs U of A football game on September 7. This prestigious recognition is given to faculty and staff who go above and beyond in their contributions to the university community. Lysette, a proud advocate of her Hispanic heritage, has made significant impacts both on campus and in the broader Tucson community.

Lysette’s contributions to the university go beyond her role at Arizona International (AZI). She was the inaugural chair of the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association (LFSA), an organization aimed at uplifting the Latinx community within the university. Reflecting on her time with LFSA, she said, "The Latinx Faculty and Staff Association is a way to create a sense of belonging for staff and faculty members who then can better serve students." 

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As a former HSI Fellow, Lysette also worked on projects that leveraged the university's status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. She collaborated with Associate Professor in the School of Sociology Dr. Daniel Martínez on a binational project and contributed to a Center for University Education Scholarship (CUES) grant to introduce service-learning work in the borderlands. “Servingness is a core value of who I am as a person,” Lysette said.

As a project manager, Lysette takes pride in advancing collaborations and ensuring the success of university initiatives. "I am most proud when I have been working on a project and I am no longer needed because the team or group has solid stability and can move forward," she remarked, highlighting the AZI Universal Dashboard project, a collaborative effort designed to provide clear data across university units.

"Lysette’s recognition as an Arizona Champion is a reflection of her dedication to fostering community and advancing the university's mission," said Vice President for University of Arizona International and Dean of International Education Dr. Jenny Lee. "She embodies the values of inclusivity and collaboration that we strive for in higher education, and I’m incredibly proud of her contributions."

For Lysette, being honored as an Arizona Champion at a high-profile event like a football game is a humbling experience. "I am so grateful that UA Athletics partners with the HSI office and focuses on the visibility of Hispanic Heritage," she said. "The Tucson Latinx community is beautiful and vibrant. I am so honored to be a representation of the Latinx community and to bring visibility to the efforts of LFSA."

Beyond her work on campus, Lysette is dedicated to community engagement within Tucson. She actively volunteers with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity Tucson, the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, and the Arizona Diaper Bank. She encourages others to get involved in service, saying, "Do the work. People may not know how you spend your free time, but they will see who you are."

As the U of A celebrates Hispanic Heritage, Lysette's recognition as an Arizona Champion underscores the importance of uplifting the community and fostering a sense of belonging. Her advice to students and staff is simple but powerful: "Find your community. If you haven’t found your community yet, make your community. When you make space for yourself, you make space for others too."