Sergio is a Research Associate and PhD Candidate at Claremont Graduate University, and he joins LPDcast to discuss his journey to the professoriate and his innovative methods of conducting research that center and highlight Latiné people. We learn how he uses Joteria Identity and Consciousness to inform his research and how Ethical Chisme can be leveraged to curate safe spaces for Latiné people in higher education. We also discuss the importance of operating from a pedagogy of the heart to promote compassion and understanding in higher education and student affairs.

Today’s guest is Aurora Vilchis, the soon to be President of the Association of Latino Faculty, Staff, and Students at Cal State San Bernardino. She joins us today to talk about the intersections of being a Latina, a mother, and a researcher pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership. Aurora shares how her academic journey was influenced by Latinidad and her research into creating a Transfer Receptive Culture at four-year institutions. She also shares her experience with ALFSS and how the organization supports Latine/x students at CSUSB.

To learn more about ALFSS at visit click here.

Stephanie Carter wrote her first children's book, and she is back on LPDcast to tell us all about it! To Love Me Is To Love The Skin I'm In, tells the story of Deja and her journey to self-love and acceptance. Tune in to learn why Stephanie chose to write this book, and the conversations she hopes Deja's story will inspire. The release date is Aug. 1, 2021 and you can pre-order the digital version on Amazon today! Stephanie is donating a portion of her sales to Voices for Children and Pretty Brown Girl so please give her all your support! She is also doing a giveaway on Instagram so follow her to win one of three paperback copies! To Love Me Is To Love The Skin I'm In is written by Stephanie Carter and illustrated by Darya Obraztsova.

A resource mentioned in this episode is the freelancing website Upwork. 

Maya Cardenas is the Associate Dean of Student Services at Mt. San Jacinto College, and we discuss the nuances of being a queer administrator in higher education. Maya shares her philosophy on leadership, and how she navigates the landscape of higher ed as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. She shares how her educational journey has influenced her leadership style and the important work that is being done at Mt. San Jacinto College. Maya shares helpful tools for practitioners to adopt when problematizing systems and structures in an effort to make them better. Tune in to this wonderful conversation rooted in the LGBTQ+ experience in higher ed! Remember to encourage, empower, and uplift the LGBTQ+ people in your life. Love and support goes a long way in improving our quality of life. A resource shared in this episode is The Trevor Project, to learn more click here.

Dr. Chacko shares his journey to becoming the Associate Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the Santos Manuel Student Union at Cal State San Bernardino. We discuss the important work he does with the affinity groups on campus to curate an inclusive environment at CSUSB. Dr. Chacko shares his experience embracing his personal identity and ethnicity and provides tips for current students as well. He also shares recommendations for higher ed practitioners seeking to do DNI work. Resources mentioned in this episode are university affinity groups, and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, NASPA. To learn more about the CSUSB Cross Cultural Center click here.

Fernando Velez is the CEO of Kraven Comics and the creator and writer of the Class 6 series. The multiple superheroes of Class 6 demonstrate the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community and their stories are representative of the nuances, strengths, and complications that we face. In today’s episode, Fernando shares why he created Kraven Comics, and we discuss the importance of community building, proper LGBTQ+ representation in the comic book industry, and the vital role that a production team plays in content creation.

I have a trigger warning for today’s conversation with Fernando. Class 6 focuses on the LGBTQ+ community and our very real lived experiences, which are not always kind or ideal and today’s episode is candid and sincere. So heads up, this episode mentions suicide, corrective rape, and drug addiction. While these topics come up, they are not the complete focus of the episode.

For more information and to purchase click here. 

Jose is the Director of Outreach and Recruitment at San Jacinto College in Houston Texas, and today he shares best practices for researching and choosing the right college to fulfill your academic needs. We discuss the nuances of outreach and recruitment during the pandemic and demystify the myths about community colleges. Jose also shares how understanding the various processes of higher education contributes to student success. Tune in to learn about the importance of open access institutions, equity in higher education, and the advice that Jose has for parents and higher-ed practitioners to best support their students. To learn more about San Jacinto College, click here.

Today’s guest is Javier Garcia – Perez, a 4th year Ph.D. student at UCLA in the department of Social Welfare, and we discuss the importance of conducting equitable research. His research focuses on the LGBTQIA+ community and the intersections of youth and Latinx/e identity. Javier’s research seeks to understand the resilience within the community and discover areas of support by using a holistic model that focuses on the cultural toolkit of Latinx/e LGBTQIA+ people. Javier shares best practices for conducting fair and impartial research from a holistic point of view that is nuanced and uplifts communities. We discuss how research can be conducted with a community centered mindset that builds trust and engagement. Javier also shares his experience with the McNair program and provides tips for undergraduate students pursing graduate school. 

Today’s guest is one of Business Equality Magazine’s Top 40 LGBTQ Under 40, Dr. Jon Paul Higgins, and we discuss Self-Love and Self-Acceptance. While the process can be arduous, it is worth it! Your personal development will improve greatly and you will learn how to harness your Personal Power. This episode, we dive into the importance of setting boundaries, the benefits of therapy, the value of radical self-love, healing generational trauma, and more! This conversation will motivate you to take your personal growth to the next level. To learn more about Dr. Higgins visit their website, www.doctorjonpaul.com. To become a supporter of LPDcast and receive exclusive merchandise, visit www.anchor.fm/lpdcast.

Junior Peña is the current, Assistant Director for Leadership, Engagement, Advocacy, and Diversity for the LEAD Office at Salem State University in Massachusetts.

In today’s episode, we discuss how to become an advocate for student success and how the LEAD Office at Salem State University works to directly support students with marginalized identities.

Resources mentioned in this episode are NASPA, the Social Justice Training Institute, and LeaderShape; all organizations that are dedicated to advancing social justice.

Tune in and learn how accountability and self-awareness are vital to being an effective advocate for student success!