Vasquez Among 25 Women Lauded for Contributions to Higher Education
ARPE assistant professor included in Diverse Issues in Higher Educations 11th-annual Womens History Month special report.
Marissa Vasquez often likes to repeat the quote 鈥渓ifting as you climb.鈥� Indeed, the credo of legendary feminist and racial justice activist Mary Church Terrell succinctly cuts to the heart of the matter.
Vasquez, an assistant professor in 黑料吃瓜鈥檚 Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education (ARPE), traveled the community college pathway herself as a student. As such, she views her work to empower underserved and underrepresented community college students as a personal responsibility.
"Being an educator 鈥� especially one from this community, being raised in Chula Vista 鈥� I recognize the role that I have here in this institution,鈥� said Vasquez. 鈥淲e talk about being public intellectuals. I know that my role as a faculty member doesn't just stay within 黑料吃瓜, it impacts the larger community.鈥�
A national publication has taken note of that impact. Vasquez is one of 25 women spotlighted by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education as part of the magazine鈥檚 11th annual Women鈥檚 History Month special report recognizing women鈥檚 contributions to higher education.
鈥淚 feel honored to be a part of it," Vasquez said of the recognition. 鈥淲hen I learned about this, I went back and looked at who was highlighted in prior years and it鈥檚 a group of amazing women. I definitely can't wait to see who else is on this year鈥檚 list.鈥�
Vasquez is associate director of (CCEAL), which offers research, strategies and solutions to help community colleges create more inclusive environments and enhance the success of minoritized students. She and co-director Frank Harris III lead CCEAL鈥檚 qualitative research, interviewing community college students and faculty nationwide about their experiences.
The work is increasingly making a dent.
"At times it felt like the data we collected would just sit on the shelf and no one would do anything 鈥� campuses were simply checking off the box," she said. "But the climate has shifted, especially as institutions have begun acknowledging the need for disaggregated data to advance equity efforts."
Vasquez鈥檚 impact extends beyond CCEAL. Last year, she , which engages community college students of color in the basics of social science research.
鈥淚 have a responsibility to pay it forward,鈥� she said.
This is the second time this year the national publication has highlighted the contributions of an ARPE faculty member. Assistant professor Eric Felix in January.
