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Graduate Student Directory

Jennifer Diana Figueroa
  • Title
    • Ph.D. Candidate
  • Division Social Sciences Division
  • Department
    • Latin American & Latino Studies
  • Email
  • Office Location
    • Merrill College Academic Building, 223
  • Mail Stop Merrill/Crown Faculty Services

Research Interests

  • Parental and family involvement
  • Equity minded pedagogy

Biography, Education and Training

Jennifer D. Figueroa, originally from Oxnard, California, with deep roots in Guerrero's Costa Chica, is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in the Latin American and Latino Studies department. Before her doctoral studies, Jennifer served as a bilingual teacher in Ventura County, where she developed a profound understanding of the importance of parental and family involvement in achieving educational equity for Chicanx/Latinx students.

Her research focuses on the historical interventions of Latinx parents and teachers to support Chicanx/Latinx students, challenging misconceptions surrounding their engagement and highlighting their pivotal role in educational advocacy.

Honors, Awards and Grants

  • Cota Robles Fellowship (2018)
  • Crossing Latinidades Mellon Humanities Fellowship (2022)