SMU Education Policy and Leadership

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we are proud to highlight one of our recent graduates, Dr. Vitia Bosch-Martinez for her dissertation work and on the role of faculty engagement and its impact on students' sense of belonging in the classroom. We caught up with Dr. Bosch-Martinez to talk about her research and check in on what she has been up to since completing her Ed.D.. 🎓 What did you do for your dissertation? I examined the college search experiences of Hispanic/Latinx students from Spanish-speaking households, specifically focusing on interactions with a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The study explored their unique challenges, listening to their experiences to identify ways in which institutions can better assist and support these students throughout their college search process. 🎓 How is your research Important to the Hispanic/LatinX Community? This study is and remains important to the Hispanic/Latinx community because it addresses the unique barriers and challenges that students from Spanish-speaking households face during the already overwhelming college search process. Many of these students take on roles that go beyond being prospective college applicants – they often serve as liaisons between their home and the English-speaking world. Recognizing and understanding these additional responsibilities is crucial to effectively assisting and supporting them. By addressing these challenges, we can create more inclusive and accessible pathways to higher education for Hispanic/Latinx students. 🎓 What you have been doing since you graduated? Since graduating, I’ve continued overseeing recruitment efforts in DFW, East Texas, West Texas, the Panhandle, and El Paso, with my team actively expanding Spanish-speaking opportunities in these areas. Recently, a fellow cohort member and I co-wrote a proposal for the College Board’s Prepárate Conference, aiming to present on enhancing the college search process for Hispanic/Latinx students and advocate for more inclusive recruitment practices in higher education.

Now that we’re two months into the fall semester, what questions are grad students asking our faculty? Dr. Alex Pavlakis has the answers! Have more questions? Ask them here: https://bit.ly/4ejVztS

CSAM or Careers in Student Affairs Month is a month-long initiative each October to celebrate the field of student affairs and the people in it. We are excited to put the spotlight on some of our Ed.D. Students that also serve in student affairs roles around campus. This week we’d like to highlight Ashley Fitzpatrick, who serves SMU as the Director for Fraternity & Sorority Life, overseeing all major aspects of our Greek community, which represents 43% of the undergraduate body. 🎓 What do you do in Fraternity and Sorority Life and why is it important? As the Director, I lead leadership and risk management trainings, assist chapters iin crisis, and develop assessment and strategic plans for the office. My goal is to help student organizations, and student leaders, focus on values-based engagement experiences. I’m lucky to work alongside two amazing Assistant Directors who provide direct support to our four councils. Fraternities and sororities provide students with real life experiences and skills that will support them long after they graduate. Our role is to help them navigate these learning experiences now so that they can positively contribute to society once they leave SMU, and live up to our motto that World Changers are Shaped Here. 🎓 What advice do you have for people looking for a new career to get involved in student affairs? Say “yes” to unique opportunities that come your way. If there are volunteer opportunities or engagement events that might allow you to network in Student Affairs, take advantage. Review job descriptions and see where gaps in your current experience might be filled by projects you may have worked on in the past. Most importantly, don’t overlook the advantages that going back to school might provide you! 🎓 What is the best part of your job? I’m never bored! Working in Student Affairs provides me with a plethora of opportunities to explore new skills. Fraternity and Sorority Life in particular allows me to interact with most areas of a university on a regular basis. It’s not rare for me to connect with campus partners in counseling, athletics, legal affairs, and marketing and communications all in the same week (or day!).

Southern Methodist University Higher Education Doctoral Class spent their class day at Dallas College Eastfield Campus on the special topic of the American Community College. Eddie Tealer, Ph.D. has been an SMU adjunct professor since 2014. Team Tealer hosted the 7-member cohort for a full day of community college experiential learning with guest lecturer Tiska Thomas, Dallas College CFO, Campus Police overview of safety measures, and campus tour. It was great day hosting higher ed doctoral candidates! #dallascollegeproud #communitycollege #campussafety

This Hispanic Heritage Month, we are proud to highlight one of our recent graduates, Dr.Victoria Babb for her dissertation work and on the role of faculty engagement and its impact on students' sense of belonging in the classroom. We caught up with Dr. Babb to talk about her research and check in on what she has been up to since completing her Ed.D.. 🎓 What did you do for your dissertation? I conducted research on the role of faculty engagement and its impact on students' sense of belonging in the classroom. My focus was primarily on low-income and first-generation college students, who often participate less in campus programs and events. This lack of involvement can hinder their sense of belonging, which is crucial for retention and academic success. Low-income and first-generation students are often hesitant to seek help, both academically and personally. However, when faculty members actively foster a sense of belonging, these students are more likely to ask questions, engage in discussions, and report higher satisfaction with their courses. 🎓 How is your research important to the Hispanic/Latinx community? Within Hispanic culture, barriers extend beyond being first-generation or low-income; cultural challenges can significantly impact a student's success. Family responsibilities often create competing priorities, particularly for those who speak one language at home and another in the classroom. It is important to emphasize that Hispanic students come from supportive families and possess incredible resilience, motivation, and maturity. These traits can be recognized and nurtured by faculty. 🎓 What have you been doing since you graduated? Since graduating, I have had the privilege of being appointed as the new Department Chair of Kinesiology at Tarrant County College. My teaching philosophy emphasizes student engagement and a sense of belonging. I serve on the Board of Directors for Imagination Fort Worth, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing access to arts education experiences for Title I schools. I have also been appointed to the Board of Directors for Aspire to Learn Dallas, a non-profit focused on empowering individuals through education and skill development

Why Pursue an Ed.D. in K-12 Educational Leadership? “Joining the SMU EdD program stems from my commitment to foster transformative experiences for students and professional growth of the staff I serve. This is coupled with my belief that individuals have the power to drive positive change when equipped with meaningful educational experiences. My hope is to learn and grow as a leader and continue to lead a generation of educators that can work towards empowering the future generations." We are so excited to introduce you to one of our newest students, Ashraf Mobh! “My personal philosophy centers on the idea that true learning goes beyond mere knowledge acquisition; it is about fostering resilience, critical thinking, and a sense of purpose in every student. As an educator for more than two decades, I find that young people need to find joy in learning and understand that they are contributors to society. As Ralph Waldo Emerson wisely said, “What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” This quote resonates deeply with my belief that nurturing the inner potential of each learner is key to unlocking their full capabilities and shaping a brighter future. Through this program, I aspire to further develop my ability to inspire and empower others, ensuring that education remains a profound and transformative journey for all.” Read about out other students’ journey to SMU here: https://bit.ly/3YNKtIB

Congratulations to Dr. Ketterlin-Geller for the recent publication of her article on cognitive interview and think-aloud interview based classroom assessments. Published in Taylor & Francis Online. Dr. Ketterlin-Geller's assessment is intended to provide teachers with data to guide their instructional decisions. She and her co-authors conducted 64 cognitive interviews with 32 students to collect evidence about students’ understanding of an educational construct. They also conducted 106 think-aloud interviews with 14 students to understand how the prototypical items elicited the intended construct. Check out the article Here: https://bit.ly/4e9aOFQ

SMU education researchers Alexandra Pavlakis and Meredith Richards from the SMU Simmons School of Education & Human Development have partnered with former SMU postdoctoral fellow Kessa Roberts, to author a new comic titled "Uprooted: Voices of Student Homelessness." The comic shares the stories of four students experiencing homelessness, told from their perspectives. The book was inspired by the team’s research, which found that students experiencing homelessness tend to have lower attendance, poorer achievement, higher rates of drop-out, and lower rates of graduation. “We are passionate about research, but we’re equally passionate about helping students. Charts and graphs don’t hook people the way narratives do.” - Alexandra Pavlakis, Associate Professor of Education Policy and Leadership at SMU Read more: bit.ly/47C6v3s

This Hispanic heritage month we want to put a spotlight on our distinguished alumni such as Dr. Rachel Capua. She graduated with her Ed.D. Higher Education in 2019 and has since become the Vice President of External Operations and Dean of the Fort Worth Campus of Tarleton State University. Dr. Capua was recently featured in an article in fortworthinc.com as one of “The Women Behind Fort Worth's Higher Ed Boom.” Check out the article and hear Dr. Capua story here: https://bit.ly/4djU3a0

Shoutout to Dr. Willis Jones, who was recently awarded a research grant by American Institutes for Research to perform egocentric social network analysis to understand how adult learners of color make decisions to enroll or re-enroll in post-secondary institutions. By focusing on the social networks surrounding these learners, the research hopes to highlight the influence that ecosystems have on college-going decision-making process. We hope the findings provide valuable insights that can help postsecondary institutions refine and enhance their outreach and support strategies by actively engaging not only the learners themselves but also the broader communities that influence their educational journeys. Read more about the project here: https://bit.ly/4daRdDZ