Roundtable: The Experiences of Junior Latina/o/x/e Faculty in Criminal Justice Programs at Hispanic Serving Institutions

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Sessions

Abstract/Description

Despite enrollment concerns in higher education, Hispanic Serving Institutes (HSIs) enroll over 5.6 million students with numbers continuing to grow. At the same time, criminal justice program interest has grown, especially among Latina/o/x/e students. Latina/o/x/e professors, however, remain underrepresented in the field and how this group experiences their profession at HSIs are underexplored. This paper reflects upon the experiences of Latina/o/x/e junior tenure-track faculty in criminal justice programs at a variety of HSIs on the topics of identity politics, teaching, service, and balancing expectations. Since HSIs are not homogenous, exploring these faculty experiences at different HSIs will highlight the benefits and challenges of working at a type of institution that aims to educate more diverse student populations. Several recommendations are provided.

Sub Unit

• Area XIV. Roundtables

Individual Presentations

• Navigating the balance between incorporating Latino/a/x identity and tokenism in the academy: The “immigration scholar” case study - Krystlelynn Caraballo, Arizona State University

• Unique benefits and challenges of having Latino/a/x criminal justice faculty in the HSI classroom - Chris Guerra, The University of Texas at El Paso

• Service expectations, invisible labor, and having an “impact.” Prioritizing strategies for balancing values with the tenure checklist. - Chris Guerra, The University of Texas at El Paso; Alondra Garza, University of Houston-Downtown; Kay Varela, Arizona State University; Krystlelynn Caraballo, Arizona State University

• Representation and interactions with upper administration. Reflections on identity and the power dynamic. - Kay Varela, Arizona State University

Chair

• Chris Guerra, The University of Texas at El Paso