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In my research practice, I concentrate on identifying and asking urgent questions about systemic inequities such as racism, sexism and classism that marginalized communities continue to face as they transition to and through higher education.

Sarah L Rodriguez, Ph.D.

  • Alum
Curriculum and Instruction
Dr. Sarah L. Rodriguez
Contact Sarah
Website
Office
Young Education North 104E
Related Department
Curriculum and Instruction
Hometown
Eustace, TX
College Major
English and Spanish
Year Graduated
2008
Curriculum Vitae

Sarah Rodriguez is a proud East Texas native and A&M-Commerce alum! Her research addresses issues of fairness, access and retention in higher education, with a focus on community colleges, Latina/o/x students and students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish from A&M-Commerce after transferring from Trinity Valley Community College. She received her master’s degree with a focus in college student personnel from The University of Tennessee, and she holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from The University of Texas at Austin.

A Conversation with Dr. Rodriguez

What has been your favorite course to teach?

My favorite course to teach is HIED 698, the advanced qualitative research course. I like it because we dig deep into the different methodologies that researchers use and how you can learn more about doing research independently or on teams. I love seeing the growth and spark of learning within my students!

Tell us about a project you are currently working on or recently completed.

I am involved with several large-scale interdisciplinary research projects focused on institutional environments and STEM identity development are sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Kapor Center. In my research practice, I concentrate on identifying and asking urgent questions about systemic inequities such as racism, sexism and classism that marginalized communities continue to face as they transition to and through higher education. The cornerstone of my research agenda focuses on the intersectionalities experienced by Latina girls and women pursuing STEM fields and their effects on STEM identity development.

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Higher Education Leadership with concentration in Mexican American Studies, University of Texas at Austin, 2015
  • M.S., Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2010
  • B.A., English and Spanish, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2008

Research Interests

  • Latina/o/x students in higher education
  • Community colleges
  • STEM identity and environments

Professional Organizations

Selected Publications

  • Rodriguez, S.L., Espino, M.E., Le, B., Cunningham, K. (2021). The Influence of Policy Implementation in the Midwest: How an SSTEM Program Broadens Participation and Enhances STEM Identity for Community College Students. Education Policy Analysis Archives.
  • Rodriguez, S. L., Bukoski, B., Cunningham, K., Jones, A. (2020). Critiquing Oppression and Desiring Social Justice: How Undergraduate Latinas in STEM Engage in Acts of Resistance. NASPA Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education.
  • Rodriguez, S. L., Hensen, K., Espino, M. (2019). Promoting STEM Identity Development in Community Colleges & Across the Transfer Process. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 26(2), 11-21.

Related News

Dr. Sarah L. Rodriguez

TAMUC Faculty Rodriguez Collaborates to Secure Nearly $1M in Research Funding

Dr. Sarah Rodriguez, associate professor of higher education and learning technologies at A&M-Commerce, is teaming up with Miami Dade College and the University of Florida for nearly $1 million in funding from the National Science Foundation for work on the Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Implementation and Evaluation Project: Artificial Intelligence for All. The project seeks […]

Dr. Sarah L. Rodriguez

A&M-Commerce Faculty to Receive AAHHE Early Career Award

The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) selected Dr. Sarah Rodriguez to receive the 2021 AAHHE Early Career Award. The award recognizes faculty and staff members who demonstrate commitment and promise in their scholarship and service to the Latinx higher education community. Rodriguez is an associate professor in the Department of Higher Education […]

A&M-Commerce faculty selected for Emerging Scholar award

Dr. Sarah Rodriguez, an associate professor of Higher Education & Learning Technologies at Texas A&M University-Commerce, has been selected as the 2020 recipient of the Barbara K. Townsend Emerging Scholar Award by the Council for the Study of Community Colleges (CSCC). This award recognizes a new scholar for outstanding theoretical and/or applied research that contributes […]

Dr. Sarah Rodriguez Awarded UCLA-Sponsored Grant

A&M-Commerce Professor Sarah L. Rodriguez has been awarded a $10,000 grant for her research project, “A Mixed Methods Study of the Experiences of Undergraduate Latina Students in Computing.” The grant has been sponsored by the Building, Recruiting and Inclusion for Diversity (BRAID) research initiative at UCLA. The BRAID project aims to increase the percentage of […]

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