Skip to main content Skip to secondary navigation

Taking Care of Ourselves & Each Other

Health & Well-Being

Casa Zapata

Main content start

Casa Zapata is a four-class house focusing on the Latine experience through educational and cultural programs that seek to center, honor and celebrate the wide of diversity and intersectional identities within Latinidad. Zapata residents co-cultivate an affirming and inclusive 'comunidad' through participating in dorm gatherings and culturally sustaining workshops and programming that include music, performing and visual art, conversations with Latine faculty and community leaders and much more. Zapata has been a source of inspiration, creativity, joy and community for over 50 years!

2023-24 Neighborhood Decorative Accent Line

 

More About Casa Zapata

Casa Zapata is a hub for cultural and community events such as Floricanto, Posadas and Latine Reunion Homecoming, as well as host to performing groups such as El Mariachi Cardenal, Ballet Folklorico, a cappella groups and service organizations. Zapata provides students with the opportunity to share a rich and fulfilling cultural experience that centers Latine identity, while forming strong friendships across all undergraduate classes in a dorm community that features the energy, enthusiasm and spirit that is usually reserved for frosh dorms.

Zapata was established in 1972 when Stanford was home to only a handful of Chicane and Latine students who were the first in their families to attend college. Today, Zapata is home to a range of students from many different cultures, backgrounds, intersectional identities and experiences, creating a rich and vibrant diversity of people and perspectives in our house. In the Zapata 'comunidad', we will center transformative justice and love, through the creation of intentional and joyful space to allow our residents to build authentic and meaningful relationships, while learning and growing from and with one another. We hope to see you soon!

2023-24 Neighborhood Decorative Accent Line

Resident Fellows

Casa Zapata Resident Fellows

Jeff Camarillo (MA '05) is the Associate Director of the Stanford Teacher Education Program (STEP) in the Graduate School of Education (GSE). Jeff is humbled and honored to bring his 20 plus years of experience teaching, leading, and founding schools in BIPOC centered urban communities to the Stanford, GSE and STEP community. Jeff has been the founding principal of two culturally sustaining college prep charter schools, the Luis Valdez Leadership Academy in East San Jose, and Lodestar High School in East Oakland. Prior to being a principal, Jeff was an assistant principal of the East Palo Alto Academy and a teacher and coach (basketball, baseball and football) in his father’s hometown of Compton, CA and San Francisco, CA. Jeff is deeply passionate about enhancing educational opportunities for marginalized students, families, and communities and transformative educational practices. Jeff’s father, Professor Al Camarillo, was the first ever Latinx professor hired in Stanford’s History department in 1975, where he enjoyed a 43 year career, and is widely revered as one of the founding scholars of the field of Chicanx history. Jeff’s mother, Susan, and his younger brother, Greg, along with Jeff’s father were Resident Fellows in Murray when Jeff was a young boy. Jeff’s brother Greg Camarillo (BA '05) played football at Stanford and went on to enjoy an eight year career in the NFL. Jeff’s younger sister, Lauren (MA '11), graduated from STEP and is now a Spanish teacher at Mountain View High School. Jeff is excited to bring his deep campus knowledge and long Stanford history to the Casa Zapata community in support of amazing undergraduate Stanford students. Jeff hopes to call upon his experience building safe, culturally affirming and inclusive schools to co-construct a diverse and vibrant community with his family, Casa Zapata RAs, and student residents to ensure that every member of the Casa Zapata community feels seen, honored and connected.  

Josephine studied marketing during her undergraduate years and most recently worked as a behavior interventionist before becoming a stay-at-home mom. Josephine has spent over 7 years working with kids and is passionate about caring for others. She is a proud first-generation Pasifika daughter who holds her culture at the forefront of her existence. Josephine spends time facilitating conversations in Pasifika spaces and building communities online. She is thrilled to be in community with everyone at Casa Zapata. 

Josephine and Jeff met at the Stanford Graduate School of Education’s former charter high school, the East Palo Alto Academy. Jeff was the vice principal and Josephine was the guardian of her youngest sister who attended the high school. Stanford is woven into Jeff and Josephine’s love story and continues to be. Jeff and Josephine have two sons, Jaxson (7) and Jayce (3). Jaxson loves sports and his favorite sport is baseball. He will be attending second grade during the 22-23 academic year. Jayce is going to start preschool this year and loves playing outdoors. Jaxson and Jayce are passionate about their pets which include freshwater fishes, a turtle named Guaco, and a leopard gecko named Leo. You will definitely see Jaxson and Jayce playing baseball on the lawn outside of Casa Zapata, and we invite you to join the fun! As a family, we love to attend live sporting events and playing sports, traveling, swimming and spending time with our extended family. We look forward to bringing our passion for family, culture, sports and education to the Casa Zapata community. 

Tile image featuring a detail of Casa Zapata's murals.

Casa Zapata (Theme)

Casa Zapata is a four-class house focusing on the Latine experience through educational and cultural programs. Casa Zapata’s ethnic-focused theme creates a common bond for all residents—Latine and non-Latine alike—that fosters cross-cultural understanding and creates outstanding learning opportunities. House life is full of many different activities and programs, some of which focus on Latine history, art and culture, while others address issues that are defined by residents and the greater Stanford community. And it has been our experience that this environment creates unparalleled opportunities to pursue your passions and to explore new ones. We hope to foster an environment that encourages exploration, fosters honest and open dialogue about difficult issues, and values diversity. 

Abstract swirl background spelling, "Neighborhoods." Credit: StudioM1 / iStock
Casa Zapata is located in...

Aspen

Burbank, Casa Zapata, Columbae, Delta Delta Delta, Donner, Larkin, Mars, Neptune, Pluto, Sally Ride, Sigma Nu, Twain, and apartments in Mirrielees and Duan.

2023-24 Neighborhood Decorative Accent Line

Find more information about Stern Hall residences on the Residential & Dining Enterprises website.