Stephanie Luna-Lopez
Ph.D. Student - School Organization and Educational Policy
Stephanie Luna-Lopez studies School
Organization and Educational Policy with a designated emphasis in
Computational Social Science. Her research interests focus on
first-generation and minority students, access to information
about higher education, and the role of social networks in
students’ experiences and outcomes.
Education
University of California, Davis, Expected June 2027
Ph.D. in School Organization and Educational Policy, designated emphasis in Computational Social Science
University of California, Los Angeles, June 2021
Master of Social Science
University of California, Berkeley, May 2020
B.A. in Ethnic Studies, double minor in Education and Public Policy
Awards
Outstanding Paper Award, California Education Research Association (CERA), 2025. “Navigating burdens and exercising agency: Student experiences with college and financial aid applications” (with J. Ramirez-Mendoza).
Academic Distinction Award, Graduate Group in Education, University of California, Davis, 2025.
Research Experience
Graduate Student Researcher, California Education Lab, July 2023-Present
- Continuous quantitative training in Stata and R
- Collaboration on CA high school senior surveys and policy reports with state agencies
- Interviewed 76 first-year college students to explore information networks, college application processes, and financial aid experiences in CA
This work will result in multiple academic papers and conference presentations.
Graduate Student Researcher, Dr. Marcela Cuellar, August 2023-September 2023
- Created a codebook using inductive and deductive reasoning
- Co-coded 18 student interview transcripts with Dedoose, and analyzed codes to create a memo with preliminary findings
This work resulted in a 2024 AERA paper presentation and publication in progress.
Graduate Student Researcher, UC Berkeley Department of Sociology, June 2019-December 2021
- Coded 30 interview transcripts with Atlas.ti and analyzed how the revelation of criminal records impact an applicant’s employment opportunities
- Entered data for 1000 businesses; recruited and interviewed 20 participants
- Wrote memos on study findings that were used to organize and inform academic papers
This work resulted in 2 publications and was partially funded through the Institute for Research on Labor & Education.
Publications
Journal Articles
Jung, D. E., Harding, D. J., Luna-Lopez, S., & Smith, M. S. (2025). “Everybody Has a Past”: Stigma, Organizational Practices, and Small Business Evaluation of Applicants with Criminal Records. The Sociological Quarterly, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/00380253.2025.2557886
Harding, D. J., Smith, M. S., Jung, D. E., Luna-Lopez, S., & Glazer, A. (2025). Narratives and destigmatization: the case of criminal record stigma in the labor market. American Journal of Cultural Sociology, 1-33.
Reports & Policy Briefs
Jackson, J., Kurlaender, M., Luna-Lopez, S., Sun, C., Chan, J., & Pierotti, E. (2025). (rep.). Student Experience Report 2024 Academic Year. California Cradle-to-Career Data System. Retrieved from https://c2c.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/C2C-Student-Experience-Report-2024-Academic-Year.pdf.
Jackson, J., Kurlaender, M., Luna-Lopez, S., Sun, C., Moldoff, J., & Fuller, R. (2025). (rep.). Applying for Financial Aid: Lessons From California’s 2024 High School Seniors. California Student Aid Commission. Retrieved from https://www.csac.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/csac_2024_survey_report.pdf.
Elster, A., Hernandez, A. R., Calvario-Diaz, A., Kulusich, B., Meza, C., Tanioka, D., … & Kissana, Z.(2020). Criminal Background Checks in California Public Higher Education Hiring. Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. Policy Brief.
Manuscripts in Preparation
Cuellar, M.G., Cantu, I., Luna-Lopez, S., & Perez, G. (under review). More than Enrollment and Graduation Rates? A Critical Examination of Hispanic-Serving Research Institutions (HSRIs).
Cuellar, M., Luna-Lopez, S., Perez, G. (in progress). Unpacking Community College “Choice”: How Information Sources Shape Latinx/e Decisions.
Luna-Lopez, S. & Ramirez-Mendoza, J. (2025, September). Navigating burdens and exercising agency: Student experiences with college and financial aid applications. [Working Paper]. California Education Lab, Davis, California.
Professional Service & Activities
Inaugural Member, Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Research Colectiva (April 2024 – Present)
Council Member, Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Graduate Student Council, University of California Davis (April 2024 – Present)
Hiring Committee, School of Education, University of California Davis (2025-2026)
Teaching Experience
Teaching Assistant, Languaging in Chicanx and Latinx Communities with Dr. Danny C Martinez, Fall 2025
Instructor Aide, Intro to Ethnic Studies with SEO Scholars, Summer 2023
Teaching Assistant, The Political Economy of the Chicanx Community with Dr. Gloria Rodriguez, Spring 2023
Teaching Assistant, Education Policy with Dr. Michal Kurlaender, Winter 2023
Memberships
American Educational Research Association (2023–Present)
Association for the Study of Higher Education (2023 – Present)
California Education Research Association (2025 – Present)
Conference Presentations
Luna-Lopez, S., Ramirez-Mendoza, J. (November, 2025). Barriers and Bright Spots: Insights from Students on College and Financial Aid Application Processes. Paper to be at the annual meeting of the California Education Research Association, Riverside, CA.
Luna-Lopez, S. (April, 2025). Examining First-Generation Latinx Student Agency Throughout the College Application Process. Paper to be at the annual meeting of the Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO.
Luna-Lopez, S., Ramirez-Mendoza, J. (November, 2024). Resistance to Racialized Barriers: Financial Aid Experiences of First-Generation, Low-Income Latinx Students. Paper to be at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education, Minneapolis, MN.
Cuellar, M.G., Luna-Lopez, S., Perez, G. (April, 2024). Unpacking Community College “Choice”: How Information Sources Shape Latinx/e Decisions. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Philadelphia, PA.
Cuellar, M.G., Cantu, I., Luna-Lopez, S., & Perez, G. (November, 2023). More than Enrollment and Graduation Rates? A Critical Examination of Hispanic-Serving Research Institutions (HSRIs). Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education, Minneapolis, MN.
Antonio, A., Antolin, R., Luna-Lopez, S., Martinez, D. (September, 2019). Power and Positioning: Systemic Change Starts with Student Organizing. Panel presentation at the annual Education Trust-West Education Equity Forum, Long Beach, CA.
