Instructor
Heather E. Rodriguez, MBA
Educator|Legal & Human Rights Advocate|Academy's Fellowship
About me
I am an immigration reform activist, legal educator, cancer-awareness advocate, and public speaker with over 25 years of experience working with international communities. My teaching focuses on making legal concepts clear, practical, and accessible, particularly for Spanish-speaking and international students who want to build a strong understanding of U.S. immigration and legal systems.
I hold a Master of Business Administration (MBA, 2024), and I have also studied Psychology, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). I have completed Harvard Online (HarvardX) training in teaching, leadership, and persuasive communication, further strengthening my approach to structured, effective, and student-centered education. I am currently pursuing a Law Degree in Mexico.
I am a published co-author of Miracle Survivors (2014), as well as the author of astrology eBooks (2021–2025) and legal education eBooks (2026). My journey as an author was deeply influenced by my experience as an ovarian cancer survivor at age 28 in 2010. That experience became a catalyst for my writing, advocacy, and commitment to educating and supporting others. After being diagnosed again in 2025, my commitment to ovarian cancer awareness and survivor advocacy became even more personal and meaningful.
My background also includes extensive experience in pageantry, singing, acting, public speaking, and performance. I have participated in pageants, including Ms. International 2004 in Miami as Ms. Mexico International 2004, and in 2005 became the first Miss Arkansas Latina 2005-2008 competing at the International level Miss U.S. Latina in Cancun 2005, a milestone that reflects my long-standing commitment to leadership, education, advocacy, and community representation.
My experience in singing competitions began in 2002, when I entered my first singing competition and earned 1st Place for singing at the state level at the Arkansas Foreign Language Festival, performing Tu Solo Tu.
My acting training includes studying in Hollywood in 2004 under Mitch Markwell, who was married to Susan Olsen, known for her role as Cindy Brady, the youngest Brady daughter on The Brady Bunch. I also studied the Meisner Technique at the William Alderson Acting Studio under William Alderson 2020-2023, one of the last living direct-lineage teachers of the Meisner tradition. These experiences further developed my understanding of character development, emotional authenticity, scene work, dialogue, storytelling, and performance.
My public speaking career began in 2003 with engagements for the Arkansas Sheriffs’ Association and has continued for more than two decades through work in ovarian cancer awareness, cancer-survivor education, immigration reform, and community advocacy, with a particular focus on reaching and educating the Latino community in the Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW) area. As an ovarian cancer survivor, my advocacy comes from lived experience, and I use my voice to raise awareness, encourage education, and help others recognize the importance of understanding their health and advocating for themselves.
My advocacy and educational work has included collaborations involving Baylor Dallas, UT Southwestern, LULAC, and Gilda’s Club/Cancer Support Community. Through UT Southwestern, I participated in cancer-survivor education for medical students. With LULAC, I performed the Star-Spangled Banner in the presence of U.S. President Bill Clinton at the National Convention in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2005. In 2013, I also delivered a speech on immigration reform and performed the national anthem for an audience of more than 40,000 people at a LULAC immigration reform event at Dallas City Hall.
My accomplishments in the arts and entertainment industry include placing in the Top 10% of the Academy’s Nicolle Fellowship in 2020 and Top 15% in 2021 for screenplay Grim & Her.
My teaching philosophy is centered on clarity, accessibility, and real-world application. I help students confidently understand complex topics step by step, while providing practical frameworks they can apply to their own learning and professional goals. My background in law, business, psychology, performance, storytelling, and public speaking allows me to approach education from multiple perspectives and connect complex ideas with practical, real-world communication.
In addition to my work in immigration and legal education, I am the developer of the Neo-Tropical-Vedic Approach Theory, a modern framework that blends tropical astrology with selected Vedic interpretive techniques to create a practical and contemporary method of chart analysis. I have more than 36 years of study and experience in astrology and am a first-generation lineage student of Nikola Stojanović, the Serbian astrologer who developed The Degree Theory.
Today, my educational work has reached 6,250+ students across 130+ countries and 18 languages.
If you’re unsure which course is right for you, feel free to message me—I’m happy to guide you.
Hablo español.