UC San Diego

ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION

The Persistence and Advancement of Latino Student Affairs Professionals

by

Mario Garibay

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

University of California San Diego, 2019

California State University, San Marcos, 2019

Carolyn Huie Hofstetter, Chair

The number of Latinos, specifically Latino college-aged youth, is increasing rapidly in the United States. As a result, institutions of higher education are seeing similar increases in their enrollment of Latino undergraduates, but a gap still exists in their retention and graduation rates. Among the various factors promoting their success are the presence of Latino faculty and staff. Latino Student Affairs professionals have a role in the success of students of color, specifically Latino students. However, research shows that Latino professionals are underrepresented in Student Affairs. While there is limited research on Latino Student Affairs professionals, specifically their persistence and advancement, there is information on comparative populations (Latino faculty and presidents, and Student Affairs professionals of color broadly). This literature demonstrates cultural values unique to the Latino professionals, as well as the supports and barriers they experience in their persistence and advancement. This literature also includes the impact of relationships, social networks, social capital, and cultural capital.

This cross-comparative case study explored the experiences of Latino Student Affairs professionals and ascertains personal and institutional supports and barriers affecting their persistence and advancement. It also identified the ways in which these professionals have overcome barriers and, specifically, the role of relationships in overcoming these barriers. The study included 21 interviews with Student Affairs professionals from two universities in Southern California, as well as document analyses of materials from each university regarding what supports may be available for Latino Student Affairs professionals.

Interview participants identified various barriers and supports that they perceive influence their persistence and advancement. They also identified the role of relationships in their persistence and advancement. From these interviews, 11 emergent themes were identified. Participants expressed barriers at the personal, interpersonal, and institutional levels. Supports included institutional support, personalismo (formal friendliness), relationships with other Latino professionals, and social capital. Participants identified familismo (the role of family) as both a support and a barrier. These themes were consistent with the available literature on Latino staff. They also aligned with the literature on Latino faculty and Student Affairs professionals of color, two populations that were used to ascertain potential supports and barriers affecting Latino professionals in Student Affairs.

Implications for future research and theory are presented. Implications for practice are also identified for colleges and universities, as well as the field of Student Affairs in general. As demographics within the student population shift and more Latino students enter higher education while there continues to be a lack of representation of Latino Student Affairs professionals, this study emphasizes the significance of understanding the experiences of these professionals and how to better improve their persistence and advancement.

Keywords: Latino, Student Affairs, persistence, advancement, social capital, cultural capital