Past Summer Scholars

2024 Summer Scholars 

We’re excited to announce the recipients of the 2024 Wheelhouse Summer Scholars fellowship. This award and mentorship opportunity is for PhD and EdD students whose equity-focused research centers on the California Community Colleges. Please join us in congratulating:

Esteban Alcala Aguirre – University of Pittsburgh, Higher Education PhD Program
Project: Chulas fronteras: Testimonios of community college transfronterize students

 

 

 

Austin Barraza - Northeastern University, Political Science PhD and Assistant Professor of Political Science at San Diego Mesa College 
Project: In Pursuit of Equity: Setting Community College Policy at the State House

 

 

 

Jennifer Fererro - San Diego State University, Ed.D. in Community College/Postsecondary Leadership (CCLEAD) 
Project: Transforming the Binary: Lived Experiences and Institutional Support for Gender Expansive Employees in the California Community Colleges



 

Teresita Martinez - University of California Davis, School Organization and Education Policy, Computational Social Science Designated Emphasis 
Project: Impacts of COVID-19 State Emergency Aid on Non-FAFSA Filers





 

Glenda Palacios-Quejada – University of Southern California, Doctor of Philosophy in Education 
Project: The Association between Ethnic Studies Courses and Student Achievement. Evidence from a Large Urban Community College District.

 

 

 

Ivan Valdovinos Gutierrez – University of California San Diego, PhD in Education: Transforming Education in a Diverse Society 
Project: Examining the Transfer Decision-Making Processes of Latinx Students Through a Family-Centered Approach

 

 

 

 

 

2022 Summer Scholars 

Congratulations to the 2022 inaugural cohort of Wheelhouse Summer Scholars! Meet this accomplished group of 12 Ph.D. and Ed.D. students who presented their work in progress to a network of peers and Wheelhouse-affiliated faculty in September 2022.

Michelle Y. Batista
Third year Ed.D. student with an equity and social justice focus in the educational leadership program at California State University, San Francisco
Research Project: “Fuerza Colectiva: COLEGAS Changing the Paradigm of California Community Colleges”

 

 

Laleh Coté
Sixth year Ph.D. student in the science education program at the University of California, Berkeley School of Education
Research Project: “Impacts of a STEM Internship At a National Laboratory on Community College Student Academic and Career Trajectories”

 

 

Joshua Dorman
Third year Ph.D. student at the University of California, Irvine School of Education Research Project: “An Investigation of Three Community College Interventions: Extended Opportunity Program and Services, Embedded Tutors, Simultaneous Enrollment”

 

 

Cynthia Estrada
Fourth year Ph.D. student in social science and comparative education program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Education and Information Studies
Research project: “Latina Community College Presidents:  Drawing from Cultural Intuition to Redefine Leadership and Drive Student Equity”

 

 

Fernando Garcia
Third year Ph.D. student in the higher education and organizational change (HEOC) program at the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies
Research project: “Harvesting Semillas: The Role of Undergraduate Research for Community College”

 

 

Sidronio Jacobo
Fourth year Ph.D. student in the HEOC program at the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies
Research project: “A Complex Pathway To Simplicity: A Case Study of Guided Pathways Design and Implementation at a California Community College”

 

 

Mayra Nuñez Martinez
Third year Ph.D. student in school organization and education policy program at University of California, Davis School of Education
Research project: “Access to What and for Whom? Examining the Geography of Transfer College (In)Opportunity for Latina/o/x Students”

 

 

Jamie Moore
Third year Ph.D. student in Interdisciplinary Humanities at University of California, Merced 
Research project: “Daughtering and Familial Metaphors in the Social Coordination of Black and Biracial Community College Faculty”

 

 

Gabriela Nuno
Fourth year Ed.D. student in the educational leadership program at California State University, Stanislaus
Research project: “Staying On the Path: The Experiences of Latinx Community College Students with Advising Redesigned for Guided Pathways”

 

 

Rachel Polakoski
Third year Ed.D. student of the Community College/Postsecondary Leadership (CCLEAD) doctoral program at California State University, San Diego (CSUSD)
Research project: “Changing the Way We Teach: A Look Inside the Post-AB 705 Transfer-level Math Classroom”

 

 

Helen P. Young
Third year Ed.D. student in the CCLEAD doctoral program at CSUSD
Research project: “Our Choice; Exploring the Experiences of Black Men that Transfer from California Community Colleges to HBCUs”

 

 

 

Elif Yucel
Third year Ph.D. student at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education
Research project: “What Happens When You’re Free: Navigating the Nexus of Higher Education and Criminal Legal Reentry”