Intersectional Power and Institutional Change: Centering Student Leadership in Postsecondary Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 7:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Centering Students and Student Leadership in Higher Education

Abstract

Despite growing calls for equity in higher education, students are rarely positioned as partners in institutional change. This qualitative case study explores how undergraduates engaged in a statewide STEM transfer reform initiative contributed to organizational change teams across two- and four-year institutions. Students joined existing teams and participated in a dedicated peer-led community of practice. We analyzed meeting observations, surveys, documents, and student reflections. Findings reveal that while students were formally included, disciplinary norms and structural power dynamics often constrained their participation. When students were positioned as experts, particularly through student-led activities, their contributions shaped team practices. These results highlight the need for structural and cultural redesigns that support student agency, shifting student involvement from symbolic inclusion to transformative leadership.

Authors

• Susannah C. Davis, University of Washington

• Lia Wetzstein, University of Washington

• Mayra Nuñez Martinez, University of California - Davis

• Jordan Reed, University of Washington

• Katherine M. Kovacich, University of Washington - Seattle