Promoting Belonging and Identity Navigation in South Asian American College Students

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 13
  In Roundtable Session: Influences of College Environment on Student Belonging and Success

Abstract

South Asian Americans (SAAs) are a burgeoning subpopulation in higher education. SAAs are not a monolithic group; they are affiliated with a variety of linguistic, immigration, socioeconomic, and spiritual identities, creating challenges unique to this group. The purpose of this study was to explore how SAA collegians experience a sense of belonging and navigate the intersections of their cultural and spiritual identities on campus. In considering the larger phenomenon of SAA collegians’ identity navigation and belonging, three key findings emerged from the data. They included: (1) family serving as a primary source of support; (2) student organizations being a critical vehicle for identity exploration and belonging; and (3) a universal understanding that SAA solidarity is essential for community advocacy.

Author

• Justin Samuel, The University of Texas