Interrogating Concepts, Theories, and Methodologies for Studying Latiné Students in Higher Education

• In Event: Latiné Voices in Print: Recent Books on Latiné Student Experiences and Educational Equity

Abstract

The panelist will provide a critical analysis of how Latiné students are studied within the field of higher education. Grounded in critical theoretical frameworks, including Latina/o Critical Theory (LatCrit), Critical Race Theory (CRT), and decolonial thought, the authors challenge researchers to move beyond surface-level inclusion and toward deeper, more transformative approaches that center Latiné epistemologies and lived experiences. The authors employ a meta-analytical and conceptual inquiry approach, reviewing and critiquing existing literature, research designs, and methodological trends in Latiné higher education scholarship. Through this analysis, they identify patterns in how Latiné students are positioned within research, which is often through deficit-based lenses or homogenizing frameworks that obscure intra-group diversity and complexity.
The scholarly significance of this work lies in its call to action for researchers, educators, and institutions to reimagine how Latiné students are studied and supported. By offering a critical roadmap for future research, the authors contribute to the transformation of higher education scholarship into a more equitable and justice-oriented field. The panelist invites scholars to be intentional in their use of language, theory, and research design to avoid reproducing marginalization within academic knowledge production.

Author

• Cristobal Salinas Jr, Florida Atlantic University