This section of my website will focus on my continued development as a tenured faculty member. Opinions and thoughts expressed within this section are mine alone and do not represent any group or organization viewpoints. I felt that having this section will allow me space to respond to issues, concerns, and ideas that come with serving in this professional role. I am fully aware that U.S. higher education institutions need more faculty that represent our ever-changing student enrollments and demographics. Latino male tenured faculty members are few on our campuses.
Occasionally I will add to this section in addition to my blog space found on this site. My thoughts and words reflect what is going through my head at that current moment.
Fall 2020 – A Short Essay About 2020
The following short essay was written for a Time Capsule project curated by my master’s students in HIED 5360 History & Organization of Higher Education. This essay was added to the capsule, along with short essays contributed by my student-scholars.
Texas. January 1st, 2024. S.B.17
Texas. January 1st, 2024. S.B.17 goes into effect. Reading the bill, I cannot help but notice how many times the word “prohibit” is written. Words, actions, titles are now seemingly prohibited. Diversity, equity, and inclusion offices and employees are prohibited. As a faculty member, I am struggling. I am confused and quite honestly, sad.
For the spring 2024 semester, I am assigned to teach a class covering the topics of diversity and culture. One of my favorite courses to teach. As I start the semester, rumors start to spread on how institutions will respond. Offices are slated to close (quietly). Position titles are being renamed. Spaces that were seen as spaces of affirmation, belonging, and care are removed to comply with the law. Yet, here I am again, in a (head) space questioning my existence or acceptance in academe. I start to write the first sentence that will start my syllabus – “Why I teach this course.”
The above reflection was written before teaching a course titled “Diversity & Culture in Higher Education”. At that time, the state where I reside was placing a new law commonly known as the “anti-DEI” law. As an educator of color who found belonging and knowledge in our educational systems, it was important for me to write out my raw emotions going into that semester. This reflection can be found in the article, Aqui Estamos, No Nos Vamos: Storytelling to Navigate Anti-DEI climates. The story/testimonio describes my confusion on whether my presence as a faculty member is welcomed. My opinion reflects mine only.
I wrote the above reflection in my journal as we were starting the new semester. The implementation of this new law was an unexpected part of my life’s calling – to teach the next generation of higher education leaders. While unexpected, I reminded myself that challenges like these have been a part of my journey into the professoriate. My ascension into the tenured faculty ranks as a first-generation scholar has been filled with the triumphs and lows that Santa-Ramirez and his colleagues (2024) described as the “roses and thorns” of being a Latinx faculty member (p. 3).