Welcome to the Project MALES Faculty and Research Affiliates page where you can learn more about our outstanding affiliates from institutions across the nation.
The goal of the Project MALES Faculty and Research Affiliates Program is to raise the visibility of our affiliates’ research on young males of color by amplifying their work to our growing national network of P-16 practitioners and administrators. Project MALES is committed to cultivating and amplifying the work of scholars whose research agenda is well aligned with the goals of our various research and mentoring initiatives.
Current Faculty and Research Affiliates include emerging and established scholars whose research focuses on the educational experiences of males of color. To learn more visit their bios below.
Project MALES Faculty & Research Affiliates
Melissa Abeyta, Ed.D. | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Success of formerly incarcerated minoritized students in postsecondary education, particularly in the community college context; anti-deficit lens
Elvira J. Abrica, Ph.D. | University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Race, ethnicity, gender, and immigrant generation; Experiences and outcomes for men of color; Student identity exploration and development in STEM; Organizational change and student equity in community colleges; Institutional research and assessment
Tracy Arámbula Ballysingh, Ph.D. | University of Vermont
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Diversity, Access, and Equity; Educational Policy; Higher Education; History, Philosophy, Sociology of Education; School Climate; School Governance; Social Justice; Student Affairs
Derrick R. Brooms, Ph.D. | University of Tennessee
Professor
Research Interests: Educational equity, pathways to and through college, men of color initiatives, college engagement, peer relationships, identity
Kaleb Briscoe, Ph.D. | Mississippi State University
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Critical theoretical frameworks; campus racial climate; challenging anti-Blackness and non-performative rhetoric; disrupting whiteness and white supremacy;
Beth E. Bukoski, Ph.D. | Virginia Commonwealth University
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Social justice, equity, and diversity, particularly critical perspectives in teaching, practice, and leadership across the P-20 pipeline; constructs of gender, race, and class; qualitative methodologies and critical theories
Jorge Burmicky, Ph.D. | Howard University
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Leadership pipeline in higher education, with an emphasis on racially minoritized leaders; policy and practice for men of color; men of color programs and initiatives
Nolan Cabrera, Ph.D. | University of Arizona
Professor
Research Interests: Race and Education, Higher Education, Critical Race Theory, Theories of Inequality, Oppression, and Stratification
Lazaro Camacho, Ph.D. | The University of Rhode Island
Faculty of Practice
Email | Faculty Page
Research Interests: Access and equity; social justice, oppression, and privilege; Latino men; masculinity; mentorship; community college workforce development
Roderick L. Carey, Ph.D. | University of Delaware
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Adolescent Black and Latino boys and young men in society and schools, urban education, Black boy mattering, college-going school cultures, postsecondary future selves
Juan F. Carrillo, Ph.D. | Arizona State University
Associate Professor
Research Interests: Latino/a, Chicano/a Education; Latino Males (k-12 & Higher Ed.); Social and Cultural Foundations of Education; Anthropology of Education; Cultural Studies in Education; Critical Pedagogy
Joshua Childs, Ph.D. | The University of Texas at Austin
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: The role of interorganizational networks, cross-sector collaborations, and strategic alliances to address complex educational issues.
José Del Real Viramontes, Ph.D. | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: The educational access, persistence, and graduation of Chicana/o/x Latina/o/x students, how Chicana/o/x Latina/o/x community college transfer students navigate and engage in the cultural production of the transfer receptive culture, Transfer Receptive Culture for Chicana/o/x Latina/o/x community college students, Chicana/o/x Latina/o/x students in the community college, Chicana/o/x Latina/o/x transfer students, and Mentoring Chicana/o/x Latina/o/x students in Higher Education.
Hermen Díaz III, Ph.D. | SUNY – Buffalo State College
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Transactional relationship between the campus environment and Latinx/o men; belonging, equity, and liberation
Antonio Duran, Ph.D. | Arizona State University
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Critical frameworks (e.g., intersectionality, queer of color critique, quare theory) to complicate research on college student identity and to comprehend how institutional structures impact those with multiple minoritized identities.
Ismael Fajardo, Ph.D. | University of Washington, Seattle
Adjunct Faculty & Research Leader
Research Interests: P-16 programs and policy (e.g., K-12 preparation, college transitions, and success) ;Diversity and Equity; Mixed method research; STEM identity, ecological, student development, and critical race theories; Community-based research
Crystal Garcia, Ph.D. | University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Minoritized college students, critical and post-structural frameworks, social justice and equity in higher education, campus environments, students affairs, sorority and fraternity life
Hugo García, Ph.D. | Texas Tech University
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Community college student transition to four-year institutions, Institutional responses to international higher education and globalization
Claudia García-Louis, Ph.D. | University of Texas at San Antonio
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: AfroLatinx Students, Race & ethnicity in higher education, Intersectionality & sense of belonging, Access & equity for first generation students, Young men of color and their educational pathways
Frank Harris III, Ph.D. | San Diego State UniversityProfessor
Research Interests: Student Development in Higher Education, College Men and Masculinities, Qualitative Methods of Inquiry, The Social Construction of Race and Gender in Higher Education, Racial/Ethnic Disparities in College Student Outcomes, and Intercollegiate Athletics
Deryl Hatch-Tocaimaza, Ph.D. | University of Nebraska–LincolnAssociate Professor
Research Interests: Community college environments—from the structural to the programmatic and classroom level—to uncover how they intersect with student experiences to foster equitable access, quality, and success in higher education, especially in regards for those from traditionally underserved and underrepresented populations.
Edwin Hernandez, Ph.D. | California State University, San Bernardino
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Underserved and Underrepresented Students; K-20 Educational Pipeline; School Culture; School Counseling; Alternative Education
Susana H. Hernandez, Ph.D. | The University of Houston
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research Interests: State higher education policies and minoritized communities, equity-minded practices in developmental education reform, and educational experiences of male students of color
Adrian H. Huerta, Ph.D. | University of Southern California
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Boys and men of color; college access and equity, gang-associated youth; and qualitative methods
Luis Jimenez Inoa, Ph.D. | Vassar College
Associate Dean of the College, Student Living and Wellness
Email | Faculty Page
Research Interests: Latino students and the impact of sports participation
Veronica Jones Baldwin, Ph.D. | University of North Texas
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Men of color in higher education, critical discourse analysis, critical race theory, diversity and equity issues related to marginalized students of color, student engagement and activism
Gilberto P. Lara, Ph.D. | The University of Texas at San Antonio
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Latina/o identity, gender studies, bilingual pedagogies, culturally responsive children’s literature and social justice education.
Raul Leon, Ph.D. | Eastern Michigan University
Associate Professor
Research Interests: International Higher Education – Study Abroad, Strategic Diversity Management, Student Success, Males of Color, Student Affairs
Julie López Figueroa, Ph.D. | California State University, Sacramento
Professor
Research Interests: Sociocultural perspectives on minority student and their schooling experiences in higher education, with an emphasis on Chicano/Latinos, Responsive teaching practices in a cultural context, and teaching and learning in diverse contexts within the discussion points of policy and practice.
Charles Lu, Ph.D. | Johns Hopkins University
Associate Dean of Diversity & Inclusion
Email | Faculty Page
Research Interests: STEM student success, international learning experiences, and diversity in higher education
Carlos Martinez-Cano, Ph.D. | University of Washington
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Literacy, Science, Psychology, Sociolinguistics, and Ethnic Studies.
David G. Martinez, Ph.D. | University of South Carolina
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Critical Theory, Education Finance Policy and Equity of Educational Opportunity. Specifically, he examines the impact of federal, state, and local fiscal policy on inter/ intra-district fiscal capacity in low-income, ethnically and linguistically diverse, marginalized, LatinX and Native American communities through the lens of social justice and equity.
Eligio Martinez Jr., Ph.D. | Claremont Graduate University
Clinical Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Intersection of race, class and gender for Chicano/Latino males throughout the educational pipeline
Brian L. McGowen, Ph.D. | American University
Associate Professor
Research Interests: Gender, race, and postsecondary educational outcomes; and college teaching and learning.
Jason Mendez, Ph.D. | University of Pittsburgh
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Urban Education, Latin@ Studies (emphasis on Puerto Rican identities), Cultural Studies, Critical Race Studies, Arts as Social Justice, Critical Pedagogy, Educational Technology, Qualitative Research Methods
Michael E. Nava, Ph.D. | University of Texas at Austin
Executive Director of Student Success Initiatives
Research Interests: Developing data-driven comprehensive academic support programs aimed at serving first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented college students and minority males at institutions of higher education
Wilson K. Okellow, Ph.D. | University of North Carolina Wilmington
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Black studies and Black feminisms, Critical masculinities, Identity development
Guillermo Ortega, Ph.D. | Idaho State University
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Intercollegiate Athletics, College Athletes, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Latinx Students, Latinx College Athletes, Latinx Leadership, College Access, Persistence, Qualitative and Quantitative Methods
Ray Ostos, Ed.D. | Maricopa Community Colleges
District Director for Student Affairs
Academic Associate at Arizona State University
Research Interests: Increasing Latino male retention and graduation rates, first-generation college student success, community college students, supporting student basic needs
Taryn Ozuna Allen, Ph.D. | Texas Christian University
Associate Professor
Research Interests: Educational experiences of traditionally under-represented students, particularly Latino students, as they access, transition, and enroll in higher education
Oscar E. Patrón, Ph.D. | Indiana University
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Issues of Race, Gender, and Sexuality among Latina/o students in higher education; men of color; and resilience through critical approaches.
David Perez II, Ph.D. | Syracuse University
Associate Professor
Research Interests: Increasing Latino male access, persistence, and success at U.S. postsecondary institutions
Spencer Platt, Ph.D. | University of South Carolina
Associate Professor
Research Interests: Black males in higher education, access to higher education, critical race theory, mentoring relationships between faculty and students of color, and the socialization of doctoral students of color at predominantly White universities
Luis Ponjuán, Ph.D. | Texas A&M University
Associate Professor
Research Interests: Access and equity in higher education for underrepresented students and faculty members of color
Richard Reddick, Ed.D. | The University of Texas at Austin
Associate Dean & Associate Professor
Research Interests: The experiences of Black faculty and faculty of color at predominantly White institutions; mentoring and developmental relationships between faculty and Black students; and work-life balance in academia
Juan A. Ríos Vega, Ph.D. | Bradley University
Associate Professor
Research Interests: K-16 Latinx students’ education, teacher preparation programs, Jotería studies, Queer/Cuir studies in Latin America
Cristóbal Rodríguez, Ph.D. | Arizona State University
Associate Dean of Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement
Email | Faculty Page
Research Interests: Elimination of inequities related to race, color, social, economic and political circumstances
Sarah Rodriguez, Ph.D. | Texas A&M University – Commerce
Director & Associate Professor
Research Interests: Latino men, identity, masculinity, community college, transfer, qualitative
Cristobal Salinas Jr., Ph.D. | Florida Atlantic University
Associate Professor
Research Interests: Economic, social and political context of educational opportunities for historically marginalized communities, with an emphasis on Latina/o students
Bernadette Sánchez, Ph.D. | DePaul University
Professor
Email | Faculty Page
Research Interests: Role of formal and natural mentoring relationships in youth’s educational experiences, the resilience of marginalized youth, and the role of racial and ethnic processes, such as racial discrimination and racial/ethnic identity, in adolescent development
Nydia C. Sánchez, Ph.D. | University of San Diego
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Qualitative methodologies and critical frameworks to interrogate the contexts and relationships that shape postsecondary access and success for Latinas/os, first-generation college students, and community college students
Pietro A. Sasso, Ph.D. | Steven F. Austin State University
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: College experience (student involvement, multiraciality, masculinity), student success (academic advising, student persistence), and educational equity across co-curricular spaces. He also centers issues of compensatory and protest masculinities among college men through social constructivist and feminist poststructuralism lenses. He draws from critical multiracial theory (MultiCrit; Harris, 2016) and intersectional methods to foreground liminality across different marginalized or historically underrepresented student populations within their co-curricular spaces. These include student involvement as well as leadership, bridge programs, residential education, or transition programs.
Shawn S. Savage, Ph.D. | University of North Carolina Wilmington
Assistant Professor
Email | Faculty Page
Research Interests: Interdisciplinary issues of access, equity, and justice; Black and other racially/ethnically minoritized males’ experiences K-Career; teacher education and leadership education; justice-centered qualitative research approaches
Michael V. Singh, Ph.D. | University of California, Davis
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Political economy of race and education, neoliberal multiculturalism, intersectionality, Latino male teachers, critical and abolitionist pedagogy
Ryan Sutton, Ph.D. | The University of Texas at Austin
AAMRI Director, GAAMBKI Director
Research Interests: Resiliency, mental health, trauma outcomes, and behavior
Mellie Torres, Ph.D. | City University of New York
Visiting Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Education of Latino/a students, Race, Ethnicity, Community and School Partnerships, Program Evaluation; Sociology of Education; Mixed Methods
Marissa Vasquez, Ed.D. | San Diego State University
Associate Professor
Research Interests: The pre/post-transitional experiences of Latina/o/x community college transfer students to four-year institutions; understanding the experiences of Latina/o/x students in college settings from multiple perspectives; exploring the role of community colleges in creating equitable environments for disproportionately impacted students.
Adriana Villavicencio, Ph.D. | University of California-Irvine
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: K-12 education policy and practice
J. Luke Wood, Ph.D. | San Diego State University
Associate Professor
Research Interests: On factors affecting the success of boys and men of color education, with a specific focus on community colleges. In particular, his research examines contributors (e.g., social, psychological, academic, environmental, institutional) to positive outcomes.
Soua Xiong, Ph.D. | California State University, Fresno
Assistant Professor
Research Interests: Southeast Asian Americans, male students of color, college student success, and support services for underrepresented students
