Luis Vazquez shares his personal journey growing up speaking Spanish and receiving special education, to becoming a senior class president and attending college and graduate school. He discusses theories of communication and emotional intelligence, including the importance of nonverbal communication, cultural contexts, and developing self-awareness and social skills. Vazquez applies these concepts to challenges like imposter syndrome, emphasizing reflection, mentorship, understanding others, and having confidence in one's expertise. He concludes by encouraging an open mind, good heart, empathy, healing words, and embracing diversity.

1. New Mexico State University
The Graduate School Journey
Mi Cuento/My Story
Luis A. Vazquez, Ph.D.
Regents Professor
Associate Vice President for
Research Integrity

2. Your Experiences Are Real: How You
Face Them Is A Choice
New Mexico State University
My Personal Trail of Language and Culture:
– Speaking Spanish
– Special Education (1965) PL94:142
– Senior Class President
– Going to College
– Graduate School

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The Combinations of Our Communication
Mehrabian (1967)-Decoding of inconsistent communications
55%
Body Language
(facial liking)
38%
Tone
(vocal liking)
7%
Words
(verbal liking)

13. Low Context High Context
**Color
Situation:
Academic
Setting**Language
Preferences
*Intelligence
**Culture
*Emotional
Intelligence*
**Social Status
*Personality
Gender
Low Context - High Context Communication
E. T. Hall (1983)- Beyond Culture Dance of Time (Modified by L. Vazquez, 2015)
Tone

14. THE PHYSICAL PATHWAY FOR EMOTIONAL IQ STARTS IN THE BRAIN, AT THE SPINAL
CORD. YOUR PRIMARY SENSES ENTER HERE AND MUST TRAVEL THROUGH THE
LIMBIC SYSTEM, THE PLACE WHERE EMOTIONS ARE EXPERIENCED, THEN TO THE
RATIONAL CENTER, THE PLACE OF COMMUNICATION. MICRO-AGGRESSIONS VS
EMOTION VS RACIAL/ETHNIC FILTERS IN THE BRAIN.
Communication and Emotional Intelligence
New Mexico State University

15. Emotional Intelligence:
Impact on Intelligence and Personality
New Mexico State University

16. EMOTIONAL IQ IS THE FOUNDATION FOR A HOST OF CRITICAL SKILLS. A
LITTLE EFFORT SPENT ON INCREASING YOUR EMOTIONAL IQ TENDS TO
HAVE A EXTENSIVE, POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOUR LIFE.
Impact of Emotional IQ on The Tree of Life
New Mexico State University

17. Emotional Intelligence: The Necessary 4 Skills
(http://psychology.about.com/library/quiz/bl_eq_quiz.htm)
• Personal Competence
– Self-Awareness: ability to perceive your emotions in the moment and
understand your reactions to events, challenges and people.
– Social Management: using your awareness of your emotions to stay
flexible and direct your behavior positively.
• Social Competence
– Social Awareness: ability to pick up on others’ emotions and understand
what is really going on. Listening and observing most important skill here.
– Relationship Management: ability to use your awareness of your own
emotions and those of others to manage interactions successfully.
New Mexico State University

18. A Real Life Example:
The Imposter Syndrome in College
APAGS Resource Guide for Ethnic Minority Students
(http://www.apa.org/apags/resources/ethnic-minority-guide.pdf)
• Having self-doubt and unwillingness to internalize your
accomplishments and appreciate your abilities (Clance, Dingman,
Reviere, & Stober, 1995)
– Am I really good enough?
– Should I be here?
– Do I belong?
“Other people’s behavior should not dictate how you feel about yourself”

19. Applying Emotional Intelligence to
the Imposter Syndrome
APAGS Resource Guide for Ethnic Minority Students
(http://www.apa.org/apags/resources/ethnic-minority-guide.pdf)
Self-A: Change your thinking: reframe your thoughts!!/stop playing the
tape
Social-M: Talk to a mentor you trust: sharing the honesty of your skills
Social-A: Knowing your peers: awareness of their emotions and
understanding, what’s really going on that triggers the imposter
phenomenon for you, listen and observe!!
Relationship-M: Own your expertise: dignity, integrity, excellence, pay it
forward
“Other people’s behavior should not dictate how you feel about yourself”

20. Words of Wisdom
• Open Mind, Good Heart, Eyes that see, Ears that Listen,
Words that Heal.
• The Embrace of Yourself
• The Embrace of Diversity
• Be a Healing Presence for Each Other
New Mexico State University

21. Dr. Luis A. Vazquez, Regents Professor
Associate Vice President for Research Integrity
New Mexico State University
lvazquez@nmsu.edu
New Mexico State University