CCHALES Crew X AERA21
What a trip, the CCHALES Research Collective started in Fall 2019 with an idea that a group of first-generation, scholars of color could come together at a CSU campus to build community and conduct dope ass research that matters; to us, to students, and the broader educational community. We collectively began to do research that pushed us to examine institutional practices, structures, and policies and consider new ways to lead in higher education that centers and validates minoritized communities. As we did this work in Fall 2019, we started two projects (Latinas in Power | Examining the Field of Institutional Research) and continued a project on race-conscious policy implementation I started while at USC. Amid the pandemic, much of our work stalled, as we grappled with uncertainty, chaos, and change to our personal lives, ability to work, and capacity for research. After a pause in spring 2020, we came back together, still committed to carrying out our data collection via zoom, take our time with analysis, and slowly pieces together papers. It was a tall task to just be able to get our research going, we somehow got our proposals submitted to AERA amid the panini, and now we are a week away from celebrating our work by presenting four papers at AERA 2021. As a scholar leading the CCHALES Crew, I’m truly fortunate to work, learn, write, and laugh with the homies and see each of them grow as awesome scholars themselves. Below, I highlight the work we plan to share. Learn more about the Crew and our Research Projects.
Some of the CCHALES Crew at our final AERA Writing Session.
Latinas in Power Project
Part of our group has conducted research examining the experiences of Latina presidents in the California Community Colleges. Led by Cynthia, Erin Nicole, and Elizabeth, they have tapped into their own experiences as chignona scholars to design a study rooted in Chicana Feminist Epistemology and Platicas. I’ve been lucky to observe and support their brilliance as a PI and fourth author. I can’t wait for y’all to see what they share and to read their paper when ready.
Sunday, 4/11 7:40am – 9:10am PDT
Session: Power, Politics, and Gender
Paper: Mujeres con Poder: Exploring Latina Presidencies in Community College
Carrying the Weight of Racial Equity
In collaboration with my colleague Elizabeth (a fellow CSUF Titan!), we have been documenting and learning about the experiences of equity advocates as they lead their organization’s goals for racial equity. We draw on interviews from four community colleges to understanding the added responsibilities and labor placed on people of color as they attempt to advance efforts to improve conditions, experiences, and outcomes for racially minoritized communities.
Friday, 4/09 7:40am – 9:10am PDT
Session: Institutional Transitions Through an Organizational Lens
Paper: Carrying the Weight of Campus Change: The Role of Student Equity Leaders in Community College
Examining the Field of Institutional Research
Working with all the CCHALES Crew in 2019 to survey the field of institutional research in the California Community Colleges, Diego (another Titan, #TusksUp), Rogelio, and I have worked to analyze the data collected and write a paper exploring the role of Institutional Research in addressing racial inequity on campus. First, we created a publicly available database of all institutional research offices in their articulated mission/overview statement that captures: the name of the office, leadership structure, capacity/size, as well as the espoused purpose/role of the office. More importantly, we used critical race discourse analysis, to explore the ways that these IR offices include or omit a role in identifying, addressing, and improving racial equity in community colleges.
Sunday, 4/11 11:30am – 1:00pm PDT
Session: Examining (In)Equity: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches
Paper: Examining the Field of Institutional Research: Toward More Equitable Practices
Race-Conscious Policy Implementation in Community College
The last paper for AERA is co-authored with my son. They were instrumental in adding all the “dssahjdhsakjdhsajkd” in the manuscript as well as drawing, highlighting, and revising the frameworks and figures included in the paper. Although scheduled during their nap time, I’m excited to share our work that helps to explain the organizational conditions that facilitate and hinder racial equity efforts.
Sunday, 4/11 1:10-2:10pm PDT
Session: Policy Implementation Considerations in Higher Education
Paper: Race-Conscious Policy Implementation in Community College
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Well, those are all the papers for AERA. I know I am excited to present and hope the team will be too. I never thought I’d be in this position, to lead and mentor a research group of first-gen scholars of color, especially a year into the tenure track role.…. but here we are. As one of the CCHALES Crew members always says, “Let’s Fuck Shit Up.” See you on the other side of the screen!
