I love seeing the growth and spark of learning within my students!

Profile for
Sarah L Rodriguez, Ph.D.
Department of Curriculum and Instruction

Contact Sarah
Website
Office
Young Education North 104E
Related Department
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Hometown
Eustace, TX
College Major
English and Spanish
Year Graduated
2008

Sarah Rodriguez is a proud East Texas native and East Texas A&M alum! She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and Spanish from East Texas A&M after transferring from Trinity Valley Community College. She received her master’s degree with a focus in college student personnel from The University of Tennessee, and she holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from The University of Texas at Austin.

A Conversation with Dr. Rodriguez

What has been your favorite course to teach?

My favorite course to teach is HIED 698, the advanced qualitative research course. I like it because we dig deep into the different methodologies that researchers use and how you can learn more about doing research independently or on teams. I love seeing the growth and spark of learning within my students!

Tell us about a project you are currently working on or recently completed.

I am involved with several large-scale interdisciplinary research projects focused on institutional environments and STEM identity development are sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Kapor Center. In my research practice, I concentrate on identifying and asking urgent questions about systemic inequities such as racism, sexism and classism that marginalized communities continue to face as they transition to and through higher education. The cornerstone of my research agenda focuses on the intersectionalities experienced by Latina girls and women pursuing STEM fields and their effects on STEM identity development.

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Higher Education Leadership with concentration in Mexican American Studies, University of Texas at Austin, 2015
  • M.S., Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2010
  • B.A., English and Spanish, Texas A&M University-Commerce(now East Texas A&M University), 2008

Research Interests

  • Latina/o/x students in higher education
  • Community colleges
  • STEM identity and environments

Professional Organizations

Selected Publications

  • Rodriguez, S.L., Espino, M.E., Le, B., Cunningham, K. (2021). The Influence of Policy Implementation in the Midwest: How an SSTEM Program Broadens Participation and Enhances STEM Identity for Community College Students. Education Policy Analysis Archives.
  • Rodriguez, S. L., Bukoski, B., Cunningham, K., Jones, A. (2020). Critiquing Oppression and Desiring Social Justice: How Undergraduate Latinas in STEM Engage in Acts of Resistance. NASPA Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education.
  • Rodriguez, S. L., Hensen, K., Espino, M. (2019). Promoting STEM Identity Development in Community Colleges & Across the Transfer Process. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 26(2), 11-21.
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