Director of VECINA Appalchia
Doctoral Candidate & English Instructor
at Appalachian State University
Interdisciplinary Instructor at Keiser University
Research Interests
Diversity, Inclusion, Justice, and Equity
Neurodivergent Postsecondary Intersectionality
Marginalized Student Experiences
Latinx Education
LGBTQIA in Higher Education
Borderlands Mestizaje Feminism
Chicana Feminism
Biographical Narratives
Anticolonial/Decolonial Frameworks
Testimonios
Intersectional Voices Matter:
Research Purpose Statement
Beyond popular interest and outside of narrowed perspective of the first-generation college student experience, the Latina-specific perspective within higher education literature is evaluated within larger groups—such as women of color and studies that include or imply the perspectives of Latinx of any gender (Saunders and Serna, 2004; Brown and Carnoy 2005; Santamaría et al., 2014; Nava, 2016; Muñoz et al., 2018; Fernández and Magaña Gamero, 2018; Espinoza et al., 2015; Kidder and Orfield, 2012)—and are not always centered on the student experience. More scholarly research centered on the student experience of Latinas enrolled in post-secondary education is necessary to effectively engage in the practice inspired by the theoretical foundation laid out so far in the 21stcentury. There are still many limitations on the research related to this area of qualitative study, especially as it relates to impacts of space, race, neurodiversity, and ethnicity on the LGBTQIA student experience.
My mission...
My mission is to to uphold peace in the community by centering social justice and equity in practice. In areas where marginalized voices are silenced and subordinated bodies are unseen, I work with individuals and groups in these subordinated identities to amplify their voice and visibilize their experiences. My vision moves toward a community of a higher education and community environment in the Appalachian region that is focused on social justice and healing from the traumas inflicted by centuries of white supremacy and imperial abuse.