Profile: Crystal Gomez
Crystal Gomez serves as the program manager of HIVE (Hub for Inclusive Visionary Engagement), playing a crucial role in promoting inclusivity and social justice within the campus community. Her diverse responsibilities encompass various parts of social justice collaboration and youth engagement.
Gomez is at the heart of Emerson’s Social Justice Collaborative (SJC), which houses the Elma Lewis Center, Healing & Advocacy Collective, and the Office of the Vice President for Social Justice & Equity. Her primary responsibilities include supporting the Employee Resource Networks (ERNs) that provide spaces for community and connection among staff and faculty who share common experiences. These communities cover a range of identities and backgrounds: people of color; queer individuals; and caregivers of elders, children, and siblings.
Gomez’s administrative role supports and connects with ERN chairs, facilitating event planning and scheduling. Her team’s work has also led to a formalized partnership between ERNs and HR, providing a platform for staff and faculty to voice their needs, while assisting HR in developing inclusive and equitable policies.
She also manages the College’s youth pathway programs, EmersonWrites and EmersonTheatre, which are designed to empower high school youth in the Greater Boston area. EmersonWrites offers a creative writing program for grades 8–12, while Emerson Theatre focuses on playmaking for grades 9–12. Gomez plays a critical role in coordinating these programs, including scheduling, outreach, and facilitating scholarship opportunities in collaboration with the Office of Student Success and Admission.
One of her significant achievements is helping to represent EmersonWrites through a presentation at the Imagining America conference in Rhode Island, where the students of EmersonWrites delivered a 7-minute “lightning talk” about the program.
Within the SJC, Gomez supports SURGE staff (Students Unapologetically Resisting, Growing, and Engaging), providing professional development in social justice education. She’s actively involved in initiatives such as a self-love series and the relaunch of the SJC student blog, Illuminate.
Additionally, she’s working on a side project, the “Career Closet,” in partnership with the Career Development Center. The Career Closet provides professional attire for students through donations from staff and students, ensuring they’re prepared for job interviews and other professional development activities.
Gomez joined the College in December as a full-time staff member and is currently a fourth-year MFA student in Emerson’s Creative Writing program, with a genre focus in poetry. Before starting her full-time role at Emerson, she was a faculty member for EmersonWrites. Prior to her tenure at Emerson, she worked as the lead housing case manager for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in Lowell, Massachusetts. She also co-chaired the Diversion, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee in Lowell.
At Emerson, she appreciates the opportunity to continue working with youth, combining her creative skills with her passion for social justice. She finds it fulfilling to bridge the gap between the personal and political, creating an environment that fosters growth and learning.
Gomez holds a BA in social thought and political economy (STPEC) from UMASS Amherst. Born and raised in Lowell, Massachusetts, Gomez’s Puerto Rican and Dominican heritage has shaped her perspective. She currently resides in Nashua, New Hampshire, a short distance from Lowell.
Outside of work, she enjoys watching and analyzing horror movies and shows, especially during her favorite season, Halloween. She cherishes spending time with her family, partner, and her role as an aunt to five nieces and nephews. Recently, she became a godmother to her nephew. In her spare time, she engages in creative writing and reading, nurturing her artistic side.
Bhavana Rao, MA ’25
Photo by Skye Bergerson ’25