February 26, 2025
Centering Latinx Voices and Transforming Higher Education:
The Work of the HSI Research Colectiva
By Paula Valle
As higher education institutions across the United States grapple with how to better serve their growing Latinx student populations, a collective of scholar-activists are working to transform the landscape through cross-sector collaboration and evidence-based advocacy. The Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Research Colectiva, supported by the Student Experience Research Network and Latina Futures 2050 Lab (Latina Futures), is a pioneering initiative led and founded by Dr. Marcela G. Cuellar (UC Davis), Dr. Gina Ann Garcia (UC Berkeley), and Dr. Rebecca Covarrubias (UC Santa Cruz). More than just a research initiative, the Colectiva is a movement dedicated to ensuring Latinx students thrive in academic spaces that were not originally designed for them.
Because California is home to the most HSIs in the nation, the Colectiva’s work is critical in creating intentional solutions that fully support Latinx student success and provide them with the skills and knowledge to step confidently into all sectors of the workforce. Through applied research, student mentorship, and institutional transformation, the Colectiva is advancing best practices for higher education institutions in and beyond California.
At the heart of the Colectiva’s mission is a deep commitment to honoring the cultural wealth and assets that Latinx students and communities bring to higher education. As Dr. Marcela G. Cuellar, associate professor at UC Davis explains, “We need to move away from deficit-based views of Latinx communities and instead focus on their strengths and the knowledge they possess.” A first-generation college graduate herself, Dr. Cuellar understands firsthand the challenges many Latinx students face in navigating higher education. “So much of my work is driven by my personal experiences—the culture shock, the feeling of being a visible minority, the need to figure things out on my own,” she reflects. “I want to make sure that students today don’t have to go through that same struggle.”
To that end, the Colectiva is engaged in a multi-pronged effort to transform policies, practices, and mindsets within higher education. This includes advocating for state-level changes that recognize the unique needs and assets of HSIs, as well as fostering authentic regional partnerships between community colleges, CSUs, UCs, and private institutions. Dr. Cuellar emphasizes that engaging students as co-creators of knowledge is central to this transformation. “It’s not just about doing research on students, but with them—elevating their perspectives and recommendations,” she says.
A leading scholar in the field, Dr. Gina Ann Garcia, professor at UC Berkeley, is at the forefront of redefining what it means to be an HSI. Dr. Garcia has dedicated her work to challenging institutions to go beyond enrollment thresholds and truly serve Latinx students. “The federal construct does not define HSIs,” she explains. “We need to lean into the ‘servingness’ framework, which calls for a complete transformation of an institution’s structures, policies, and practices.”
The ‘servingness’ framework, developed by Dr. Garcia and her colleagues, emphasizes embedding Latinx identity and consciousness throughout the institution, from curriculum redesign to physical infrastructure. “It’s not just about having a mural or a logo,” Dr. Garcia states. “It’s about deeply embedding Latinx identity and consciousness throughout the institution.”
Dr. Garcia is also deeply committed to collaborative, community-driven scholarship. “We don’t want to be the ‘queens’ of our own centers,” she explains. “We want to work in community, supporting and uplifting each other’s research and advocacy efforts.” This sense of collective effort is what makes the HSI Research Colectiva unique—a model of mutual support among Latina scholars who are deeply invested in systemic change.
Dr. Rebecca Covarrubias, associate professor at UC Santa Cruz, highlights how the Colectiva is committed to translating research into practical, tangible outcomes. “It’s not just about living within the walls of the ivory tower,” she says. “Obviously, yes, we do the research, but then also, how do we translate that back into concrete, tangible things that people, based on their different positions, can do in order to enact educational equity?”
This commitment to bridging the gap between academia and real-world impact is especially critical given the uncertain political landscape surrounding HSI funding. Dr. Covarrubias acknowledges the challenges posed by potential changes in federal government policies but emphasizes the Colectiva’s responsive approach. “We’ll come together. And part of the way that we want to think about the Colectiva is that…we are nimble, we’re responsive, and we can hold a lot of complexity.”
As the current administration navigates higher education policy, members of the Colectiva recognize both challenges and opportunities ahead. The uncertainty surrounding federal support for HSIs underscores the importance of grassroots organizing, state-level advocacy, and institutional accountability. In this landscape, the Colectiva’s partnership with Latina Futures is instrumental in advancing its mission.
Rather than imposing bureaucratic hurdles often associated with traditional funding, Latina Futures has embraced a model of trust and collaboration, allowing the Colectiva to focus on transformative research and advocacy. “There was just so much confidence in the Colectiva,” Dr. Covarrubias reflects, “And that kind of support is amazing; we can envision something and then go with that vision.”
