Student & Professor Publish Article on Their Research

Maria del Cielo Mendez ’22 and Dr. Jennifer Ayala were recently featured in the Winter 2020 Newsletter of Bringing Theory to Practice, an independent organization, in partnership with the Association of American Colleges and Universities, which works to advance the “holistic and transformative” education of undergraduate students through “innovative practice, research, advocacy, and institutional change.” Their work was included as a Campus Highlight for their September 26, 2019 conference Encuentros in the Borderlands: Activism, Critical Youth Research, and Obligations of the University, held at Saint Peter’s University. The conference aimed to gather local scholars and undergraduate and graduate students to start a dialogue and, “identify obstacles to justice for immigrants and other marginalized people and to offer scholarly tools to support each other in our respective struggles to combat persecution on the basis of race, ethnicity, or migration status.” The day’s activities included panel discussions and performance art pieces.

Maria and Dr. Ayala work together in the Center for Undocumented Students as part of the Honors Program’s Research Assistant Program. Honors students have the opportunity to work as research assistants for faulty members, for a stipend. Assistantships extend for one semester and are granted based on available funding. Students interested in applying to become an RA and faculty members who would like to request an Honors RA can visit the Honors Program Facilities & Resources page for application details.