Sac State Using Student Voices to Transform HSIs

We are committed to centering student voices on ¿Qué pasa, HSIs? This episode provides the opportunity to learn about the Using Our Voices to Transform HSIs project at California State University, Sacramento (Sac State). The project, funded by the College Futures Foundation, explores Latinx/e student perceptions of servingness at Sac State and aims to interrogate how university policies, programs, and practices support Latinx/e student success. Four members of the Using Our Voices team, Dr. Amber Gonzalez, professor at Sac State, Dr. Kevin Ferreira van Leer, assistant professor at University of Connecticut, Jacky Villalobos, alumni of Sac State, and Samantha Secundido, student at Sac State, talk about the history of the project, their process as co-researchers, and some of the core findings. They also share how their project caught the attention of the administration on campus, which has led to structural and policy changes for students. Participatory action research (PAR) has the power to transform HSIs, but it’s not easy work. This episode spotlights the processes necessary to engage in successful PAR work with students at HSIs. And if there is one thing all HSIs should do, it is listen to their students.

Guests: 

Amber Gonzalez (she/her), Professor, California State University, Sacramento

Kevin Ferreira van Leer (he/him/el), Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut

Twitter & Instagram: @DrKevinFvL | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin1ferreira/

Website: https://www.drferreiravanleer.com/ https://arclab.hdfs.uconn.edu/projects/elevating-equity/

Jacky Villalobos (she/her), Alumni & Doctorate of Physical Therapy Student, California State University, Sacramento 

Samantha Secundido (she/her), Student, California State University, Sacramento

Instagram: @xo.samy

Attachments / Show notes: 

• Instagram: @csus.usingourvoices 
• Website: https://www.usingourvoiceshsi.com/
• https://www.csus.edu/news/newsroom/stories/2023/9/listening-to-students.html