Guillermo D. Miranda is a first-generation community college transfer student majoring in History. His academic interests include United States and Latin American history, concentrating on studying the cultures and communities in Mexico and Central America through a historical lens. His research will predominantly focus on the industrialization of Mexican cheese, the branding of ‘Mexican authenticity,’ and its social, cultural, and economic impacts on rural communities in Mexico. As a Mellon Mays Fellow, Guillermo will challenge the existing literature and investigate how seemingly simple topics – like cheese production and consumption – can impact the cultural practices of Latin America. His future aspirations include obtaining a Ph.D. and becoming a historian and professor to help alleviate disparities in academia in underrepresented communities like the one he grew up in.