Claudia’s Story

Completing my doctoral program in Cultural Studies in Education at UT Austin was a life-changing journey. That is because from the research to the teaching collaborations and the relationships that I developed, all came together to enrich my scholarly, activist, and personal experiences in very significant ways. Intellectually, CSE offered a space that challenged the boundaries of traditional knowledge. For instance, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Lourdes Díaz Soto and other fellow CSE doctoral students to develop the first Chicana Feminist course in our department. This project became a collective sacred space that continues to foster humanizing relationships and nourish our research projects today.

The mentorship that I received from faculty both pushed me and gave me independence and autonomy in my scholarly work. My dissertation advisor, Dr. Doug Foley, continuously supported my research goals, even as I completed my ethnographic fieldwork in Juárez, Mexico during the most dangerous and violent year in the city’s history. Other faculty, such as Drs. Angela Valenzuela, Luis Urrieta, Jr,, Keffrelyn Brown, Anthony Brown, and Haydee Rodríguez also supported me in various ways, from offering research, writing, teaching, and political advocacy opportunities, to providing guidance during the job search.

Why UT?

I had just completed my master’s degree and was a dual-language teacher in El Paso, Texas when I began searching for a doctoral program. I was looking for a program that would support a critical analysis of schools and their role in the cultural production of youth’s educational and aspirational paths and identities. Initially, I was attracted to the Cultural Studies in Education (CSE) program at UT Austin by Dr. Angela Valenzuela’s provocative research, which had provided me with a framework to better understand the institutional and sociocultural factors affecting the schooling experiences of Mexican-origin youth in U.S. schools. As I continued to research the CSE program, I was further impressed and convinced by its stellar and diverse faculty, their research interests, and the program’s strong critical orientation.

Life After UT

One of my current roles has been to provide leadership in the development of researchers and educators of Latin@ and other language minority students by supporting the understanding of these children’s unique bilingual/bicultural development, life experiences, knowledge, and rich contributions to society, as well as the institutional and sociopolitical factors that hinder their access to empowering and culturally responsive education. My graduate school experience laid a strong foundation for my current scholarly work, as I continue to draw upon critical, sociocultural, borderlands, and Chicana feminist frameworks, teaching and research experiences, and on the networks that I formed with faculty and peers.

Advice for Students

As a graduate student is easy to become isolated, which can lead to self-sabotage. I encourage graduate students to reach out and build meaningful relationships with faculty and peers. Create your own mentoring circles where you can write together, engage in rich intellectual conversations, learn from others’ experiences, and nourish your human needs for laughter, friendship, and rest. These relationships will turn into a community of scholars that will continue to support you even beyond graduate school.