For the final episode of season 6 we bring in a “new to the show” conversation on advising. And the whole episode is about advising and servingness. Dr. Gabe Bermea, a visiting scholar at the The Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions, is a scholar and expert on advising practices with a keen focus on HSIs. He describes different types of advising models and dives deep into humanistic advising and the ways to use this approach in serving Latine students.  He challenges us to think about the conceptual natures and structures of advising as intertwined with servingness. Gabe reminds us that if 63% of Latines are enrolled in HSIs, that means HSIs are responsible for advising 63% of them, not just enrolling them. Advising is a vital structure for serving that must be intentional and can, in itself, be servingness. Listen and learn

Guest: 

Gabe Bermea

Visiting Scholar, The Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbermea/

https://www.gabebermea.com/

Show Notes - all links are are open access:

APA Citation: 

Garcia, G.A. (Host). (2025, June 1). Advising as Servingness. (No.610) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?. https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast/

With over 400 campuses emerging toward 25% enrollment of Latine students and 600 institutions already meeting the threshold, we must talk about what it means to emerge as a campus that truly serves Latine students. Emergingness is the intentionality that goes into embracing servingness, and it is happening across the U.S. In this episode we welcome Kansas to the mic to learn about HSI work going on at Wichita State University. Dra. Sara Mata, Executive Director of Hispanic Serving Initiatives at WSU, is joined by two students, Valeria Paunetto and Dimas Gonzalez, who talk about the HSI movement on their campus, an emerging HSI. They share information about their signature offering, Herencia, a summer bridge program that centers Spanish, and their Somos Shockers campaign, which is the umbrella for all their HSI initiatives. Listening to students make sense of servingness is one of the most important things HSIs and eHSIs can do while they emerge.

Sara Mata (she/ella)

Executive Director of Hispanic Serving Initiatives, Wichita State University 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-mata-ph-d/

Instagram: @sara.mataphd | Facebook: sara.mata

Valeria Paunetto (she/her)

Somos Shockers Coordinator, Wichita State University 

Instagram: @paunettovaleria

Dimas Gonzalez (he/him/él)

Outreach Specialist, Wichita State University 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dimas-gonzalez-bb3440303/ 

Show Notes: 

APA Citation: 

Garcia, G.A. (Host). (2025, May 18). Emergingness in Kansas (No.609) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?. https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast/

In this episode we get in (racial) formation with Dra. Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza, an assistant professor of Counseling and College Student Personnel at California Lutheran University. Dra. Espinoza’s research revolves around racial and organizational classifications, focusing on MSIs; particularly dual and multiple designated MSIs. She lays out the landscape of these institutions drawing on her dissertation titled, “Let’s get in (racial) formation: A three-paper exploration of dual- and multiple-designated Minority-Serving Institutions.” We talk about the complications, but also call on educators in these institutions to work in relation and solidarity across racialized lines. The call to action is to acknowledge that the number of dual and multiple designations is on the rise and we must do servingness work in relation and with responsibility. We also invent new words like, “AANAPI-Rizzies,” nodding to the University of California and other research institutions that are embracing multiple designations while remaining focused on their historic mission. This episode is a must listen for all HSI, AANAPISI, HBCU, and Black Serving Institution (BSI) educators and leaders. Let’s work in solidarity! 

Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza (she/her/siya)

Assistant Professor of Counseling and College Student Personnel, California Lutheran University

X/Instagram: @kageceratops

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinejan 

https://linktr.ee/kristinejan

APA Citation: 

Garcia, G.A. (Host). (2025, May 4). Racialized Solidarity Across Multiple MSI Designations. (No.508) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?. https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast/

Show Notes: 

What does it mean to be an historic HSI? Since few HSIs were founded with the mission to serve Latine students, the definition of an “historic HSI” is to have enrolled 25% Latine students since 1992 when the Higher Education Act was reauthorized to include HSIs. The historic HSIs are important because they have provided access to Latine students for over 30 years. In this episode we elevate these HSIs that I affectionately call “tia HSIs.” We also touch on the “historic spaces of servingness” which includes cultural centers, ethnic studies, and Trio programs. This plática includes Rosa Isela Cervantes, the Director for El Centro de la Raza at the University of New Mexico, and Julián G. Ángel, an undergraduate student and Program Assistant for HSI Initiatives, who talk critically about their progression from being set in their “tia HSI ways” to embracing servingness. We also interrogate what it means to be a Hispanic Serving Research Institution. This episode allows us to love and honor historic HSIs while also talking about holding them accountable to servingness.

Guests:

Rosa Isela Cervantes (She/Her/Ella)

Director, El Centro de la Raza and Special Advisor to the President on Latina/o Affairs, The University of New Mexico

Instagram: @rosaisela742 | @elcentrounm

Julián G. Ángel, (He/Him/Él)

Program Assistant-HSI Initiatives, El Centro de la Raza, The University of New Mexico

Instagram: @juliangangel

Show Notes 

APA Citation 

Garcia, G. A. (Host). (2025, April 20). Historic HSIs and Historic Spaces of Servingness (No.607) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?. https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast/

Developmental mathematics is one of the most pressing educational issues that colleges across the nation are addressing. Many states have passed legislation to address inequities in placement into developmental mathematics while individual colleges are trying innovative approaches to ensure the success of students who enroll in these courses. It’s an issue we may not fully solve, but there are many best practices to learn from. Our guest Dr. Vanessa Hill is a math professor who has spent the last 18 years at Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) doing what she loves–teaching mathematics. She has also been involved in efforts to rethink developmental mathematics, both at her college and abroad. She has developed effective models and redesigned curriculum through the lens of servingness, acknowledging that as an HSI, STCC enrolls a large percentage of Black and Latine students who place into developmental mathematics at higher rates than white students. In this episode, we have a lively discussion about developmental mathematics as servingness.

Vanessa Hill (she/her)

Professor, Springfield Technical Community College

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-hill-phd-26718817/

Show Notes:

APA Citation: 

Garcia, G. A. (Host). (2025, April 6). Rethinking Developmental Mathematics as Servingness. (No. 606) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?. https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast/episode/a3c06889/rethinking-developmental-mathematics-as-servingness

In this episode we nerd out on all things governance in higher education, with a focus on governing boards and trustees in HSIs. The role of governing boards in advancing servingness is an understudied topic, despite the importance of gaining support from trustees in order to advance equity and social justice goals. Dr. Demetri L. Morgan joins the conversation, bringing a wealth of knowledge on the topic. He is an associate professor of education at the University of Michigan's Marsal Family School of Education in the Center for the Study of Postsecondary and Higher Education. His research focuses on the critical role that higher education institutions play in fostering a diverse democracy and researches the influence of culturally sustaining governance on institutional transformation. In this episode we discuss the crucial role of governing boards in HSIs, talking about an article we published entitled, “Mission-based vs. enrollment-based institutions: Segmented governance at a Catholic Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).” We discuss the intricacies of developing this study and the ways we combined two theoretical frameworks to make sense of the fiduciary duty of obedience that trustees have and the ways they must uphold an historic (Catholic) mission as well as an emerging (HSI) mission.  

Guest: 

Demetri L. Morgan (he, him)

Associate Professor of Education, University of Michigan 

@DMorganPhD

Download the Article (open access):

APA Citation for this Episode: 

Garcia, G. A. (Host). (2025, March 23). Nerding out on Governing Boards at HSIs (No.605) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?. https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast/episode/abacfc74/nerding-out-on-governing-boards-at-hsis 

Show Notes:

What happens when a group of 15 change agents from across campus come together to build an HSI movement? That was the guiding question for a small grant project funded by the Student Experience Research Network (SERN). With the grant we launched “HSI Transformation Teams” at two community college campuses–Santa Rosa Junior College and Fullerton College. In this episode we talk about how the teams came together to transform HSIs in practice, in community, and with the purpose of fostering collaborative research-practice-policy partnerships. Members of the transformation teams learned about HSI scholarship and engaged in participatory action research to develop action-based solutions to address the most pressing concerns on their campus. Our guests on this episode co-led the transformation teams, offering knowledge on the process, the challenges faced, and the wins experienced over the year. Dr. Robert Holcomb, Vice President of Academic Affairs/Assistant Superintendent at Santa Rosa Junior College, and Dr. Julio Flores, Dean of Counseling & Support Services at Santa Rosa Junior College provide insight into their process and are joined by Dr. Flor Huerta, Dean of Counseling & Student Development at Fullerton College. Listen and learn about what happens when a group of dedicated practitioner-activists ignite servingness.

Guests:

Flor Huerta (​​she/her/ella)

Dean, Counseling and Student Development, Fullerton College

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/flor-huerta-ed-d-049943173

Instagram: @dra.florhuerta

Robert "Bobby" Holcomb (he/him)

Vice President of Academic Affairs/Assistant Superintendent, Santa Rosa Junior College

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robert-holcomb-ph-d-25608620

Instagram: @robert__holcomb

Julio R. Flores (he/him/él)

Dean, Counseling and Support Programs, Santa Rosa Junior College

Show Notes:

https://academicaffairs.santarosa.edu/

APA Citation for This Episode: 

Garcia, G.A. (Host). (2025, March 9). Transformation Teams Leading HSIs (No.604) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?. https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast/episode/9c7f5c56/transformation-teams-leading-hsis

The new presidential administration took office on January 20th, 2025, launching a new era of federal politics for colleges and universities that many of us are trying to navigate. But how do we move forward when 47’s administration is releasing daily attacks on public education, research, academic freedom, access, and equity? On this episode of ¿Qué pasa, HSIs? we discuss the current federal climate and offer advice for remaining focused on doing good work in solidarity across racial-ethnic groups. Our guest, Dr. Cristóbal Rodríguez, is a policy expert and scholar activist with a track record of advocating for Latine populations. He was appointed in 2022 by President Biden to serve on the White House Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics and Latinos. He shares his experience and some recommendations made by the commission despite it being dismantled as a direct result of one of many executive orders signed by 47. He also talks about state policy implications and the ways we can leverage local governments, policy intermediaries, associations, and state-wide HSI consortia. We don’t have all the answers, but Dr. Rodríguez offers tips on navigating these tumultuous times.

Guest:

Cristóbal Rodríguez (he/him/él)

Associate Provost for Equity, Western Michigan University

Chair, American Association for Hispanics in Higher Education

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cristóbal-rodríguez-25656453 

Instagram: @dktrcrodriguez

Show Notes: 

APA Citation for This Episode:

Garcia, G. A. (Host). (2025, February 23). Federal Policy and Politics of HSIs (No.603) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?. https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast/episode/b4693131/federal-politics-of-hsis-under-47

What is a graduate-going culture? Drawing from the college-going culture research, I define a graduate-going culture as one where faculty, staff, and administrators are dedicated to promoting students’ aspirations for graduate school, including planning and preparation. I argue that HSIs should prioritize building a graduate-going culture that provides students with the awareness, knowledge, and skills needed for pursuing and successfully entering graduate programs, including master’s, doctoral, and professional  programs. This is essential to HSIs where a large percentage of students are first-generation to college and therefore first-generation to graduate school. The development of a graduate-going culture can be liberatory for students of color and first generation students who may not see themselves as graduate students. Moreover, HSIs are relying on the development of stronger pathways for people of color to enter faculty and administrator positions that require graduate degrees. For this conversation I am joined by Dra. Yvette Martínez-Vu, a grad school and productivity certified coach, and Dra. Miroslava Chávez-García, a professor of history and faculty director of the McNair Scholars Program, who wrote the book, Is Grad School For Me?: Demystifying the Application Process for First-Gen BIPOC Students. We discuss the book, which is an accessible, easy-to-read guidebook for first-generation, low-income, students of color interested in pursuing graduate school, and explore the ways that HSIs can use the book and other resources to build a graduate-going culture.

Yvette Martínez-Vu (she/her)

Certified coach, consultant, author, and speaker

Founder of Grad School Femtoring, LLC

Website: www.gradschoolfemtoring.com 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gradschoolfemtoring/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvettemartinezvu/ 

Miroslava Chavez-Garcia (​​she/her)

Professor of History, Faculty Director of the McNair Scholars Program

UC Santa Barbara

Website: https://history.ucsb.edu/faculty/mchavezgarcia/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/miroslava-chavez-garcia-779919222/

Attachments / Show Notes: 

APA Citation: 

Garcia, G.A. (Host). (2025, February 9). Building a Graduate-Going Culture at HSIs (No.602) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?. https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast/episode/9be76898/building-a-graduate-going-culture-at-hsis

We kick off season 6 of ¿Qué pasa, HSIs? with a conversation about advocacy for Latine college students and HSIs. We learn with Dr. Patrick Velasquez, a Chicano educator who serves as Co-Chair of the San Diego Chicano/Latino Concilio on Higher Education and works directly with HSIs in the San Diego region. Patrick is a huge advocate for liberatory outcomes in HSIs and successfully advocated for the addition of an undergraduate, liberatory Institutional Learning Outcome that emphasizes anti-racism and social justice for San Diego State University students. In this episode we talk about the process of ensuring that the campus will commit to liberation as an outcome. We also discuss liberatory education as an essential concept for HSIs, calling attention to the decades of research on diversity, social justice, culture, power, and liberatory pedagogies. 

Attachments / Show notes: 

APA Citation: 

Garcia, G.A. (Host). (2025, January 26). Liberatory Outcomes in HSIs. (No.601) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?. https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast/