Reflections of an Early Career Latina in Academia: Issues, Challenges, and Lessons Learned

• In Event: Pathways to Success in Academia: Experiences of Women of Color in a College of Education

Abstract

Purpose:

The road to success for women in higher education has been characterized by multiple challenges that include complex negotiations with multiple demands and roles including our families, interpersonal relationships, cultural values and norms, job expectations, etc. The motivation behind this presentation comes from my experience navigating the system of a Hispanic Serving Institution (HIS) and my reflection of how the multiple demands and negotiations faced on a daily basis might detract or difficult the path to success. This presentation will discuss these challenges from the perspective of an early-career, Puerto Rican woman working on a HIS. A reflection on the issues, challenges, lessons learned, and suggestions for the advancement of women in higher education will be provided.

Perspective(s) or theoretical framework:

Feminist Critical Race Theory (FemCrit) is the theoretical framework utilized for the examination of my experience. Feminist and critical theories call attention to and question silences; thereby addressing whose perspective is privileged and whose voice is silenced (Anzaldúa, 1999). FemCrit also highlight the importance of looking within as opposed to outside of communities for knowledge, resources, and strengths and value lived experience as knowledge (Hill Collins, 2000).

Methods, techniques, or modes of inquiry:

This presentation will be based on my autoethography as an early-career scholar. An autoethnography “offers a way of giving voice to personal experience to advance sociological understanding”(Wall, 2008; p.39).

Data sources and materials:

Because this presentation will be autobiographical in nature data sources will include recollections of events during the past 3 years, critical dialogues with colleagues in the field, examination of P & T documents and review of other relevant documents that will support my story.

Substantiated conclusions or warrants for arguments/point of view:

Women in higher education face additional challenges in their tenure process. As a Puerto Rican woman, issues related to acculturation, gender biases, managing multiple roles and responsibilities and sexism, have also become prominent and challenging as a go through this process. Having to manage multiple roles & identities with the higher education arena have proven to be challenging but at the same time have serve as a motivator, increasing my desire to succeed in this endeavor and become a positive role model to other Latinas who would like to pursue academia in the future.

Scientific or scholarly significance of the study or work:

This researcher’s experience might contribute to the literature in the area of women of color in higher education. It would also shed light in terms of the challenges and barriers women face during their path toward tenure as well as the positives of being in academia.

Author

• Ivelisse Torres Fernandez, New Mexico State University