Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Educational Leadership and Policy
The University of Texas at Austin
2020

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Student Affairs and Higher Education
Ball State University
2011

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

International Business/Management Minor
Taylor University
2008

ELPS 607: Diversity and Multiculturalism in Higher Education

ELPS 610: Financial Management in Higher Education

ELPS 608: Law in Higher Education

ELPS 620: Community Colleges and Broadly Accessible Institutions

2024 Dr. V. Ray Cardozier Alumni Excellence Award, UT-Austin

2024 Emerging Scholar, Diverse: Issues in Higher Education

2023-2024 Faculty Fellow, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE)

2022-23 NASPA Emerging Faculty Leaders Academy – Cohort VII

2021 AAHHE Outstanding Dissertation Competition, Semi-Finalist

2020 Dr. Bill Lasher Doctoral Excellence Award, UT-Austin

2020 AERA Emerging Scholars, Division J

2020 NASPA Center for Women, Ruth Strang Award for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development

2019 Graduate Fellowship Award, Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE)

2018-19 Faculty First-Look Scholar, NYU Steinhardt

Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Performance-Based Funding

Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Performance-Based Funding: A Systematic Review of the Literature

This paper examined how performance-based funding (PBF) policies shape institutional performance and student outcomes for public four-year or above historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Latinx/a/o Senior Leaders in U.S Higher Education

Latinx/a/o Senior Leaders in U.S Higher Education: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Latinx/a/o senior leaders remain underrepresented in the executive ranks, and more research is needed to adequately address equity gaps in higher education leadership. By employing a systematic literature review approach, we examined 57 pieces of scholarship that focused on the experiences of senior Latinx/a/o leaders in postsecondary education. This exploration was aimed at equipping higher education scholars and practitioners with the tools to understand how Latinx/a/o leaders navigate challenges and opportunities in higher education. We identified three major themes: 1) scholarship focusing on individual traits and important identity-based differences; 2) research describing the environmental and structural conditions that shape these leaders’ realities; and 3) literature describing these individuals’ leadership pathways. As an effort to make this body of work more accessible to researchers and decision-makers, we provided implications for research and practice to shape the field of Latinx/a/o leadership in higher education.

Advancing Presidential Careers

Advancing Presidential Careers: Operationalizing Sponsorship in Higher Education

Higher education scholars have studied the American college presidency. Yet, fewer studies have prioritized the support systems needed to ensure that the presidential pipeline is representative of the students they serve. By examining the concept of sponsorship through a hermeneutical phenomenological approach, this piece described the mechanisms that Latino college presidents used to gain access to sponsors with the ability to deliver high-octane advocacy to propel their careers. Findings were framed to support the pipeline of future presidents who hold historically marginalized identities. Implications for higher education practice were offered.

Equity Case Studies on Rural Community Colleges

Equity Case Studies on Rural Community Colleges: A Blueprint for Campus Change

The purpose of this article is to provide a blueprint to conduct equity case studies in rural community colleges. Informed by our field work experiences applying case study design and equity-minded frameworks, this blueprint involves four distinct steps: 1) identifying rural community colleges in North Carolina; 2) operationalizing equity in rural community colleges; 3) building rapport and creating buy-in with campus presidents and stakeholders; and 4) methodological considerations. We provide details about each of these steps with the goal of sharing principles, tools, and advice that aided our research design. We conclude by providing research implications to equip future researchers and practitioners interested in advancing equity-minded research in rural community colleges.

Men of Color Programs Serving Latino Men at Hispanic-Serving Community Colleges

Men of Color Programs Serving Latino Men at Hispanic-Serving Community Colleges: An Organizational Identity Exploration

This multi-sited case study explored Men of Color (MoC) programs at Hispanic-serving community colleges. By employing frameworks designed to make meaning of Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) organizational identity, we examined how MoC program practitioners define the organizational identity of their Hispanic-serving community college, and how these understandings shape the services provided to Latino men. Findings underscored factors and identity markers that practitioners used to define HSI identity and servingness toward Latino men. In addition, our findings highlighted the problems and inconsistencies that exist when it comes to prioritizing the educational needs of community college Latino men. We provided implications for practice tailored for community college practitioners.