Diane Mendoza Nevárez, PhD

Assistant Professor

I earned my Ph.D. in Urban Education Policy, with a focus on Teacher Education, from the University of Southern California. Currently, I am beginning my fourth year as an Assistant Professor of Liberal Studies at California State University, Stanislaus. Prior to arriving at Stan State, I was a lecturer for the University of California at Irvine (2016-2021), where I taught in the undergraduate Education Sciences program and the Master’s in Teaching program. In 2021, I was honored to receive the UCI School of Education’s Dean’s Honoree award for excellence in teaching.

My research explores two strands of research: 1) Asset-based teacher preparation for Chicane/Latine teacher candidates and, 2) Pedagogies, perspectives, and experiences of Chicane/Latine Teacher Educators. My most recent publications can be found in the International Journal of Teacher Leadership and the AERA Handbook of Research on Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers.

Bio

Creating Spaces of Love and Resistance in Academia

Though I was raised in Southern Califas as a proud Chicana, I have roots in D.F., and Puebla, Mexico (St. Ines de Ahuatempan) where my dad was raised and where my ancestors rest. On my mother's side, my family is from Oaxaca, Mexico (Tehuantepec), where my great grandfather was the last in our family to speak both Mixtec and Spanish. My mamá, who always inspired (and implored) me to use my voice, is a brilliant Chicana who was raised in Colton, CA.

My journey into academia was less a journey and more of a fight, a batalla, to maintain my sense of self and my deep love for my community; to always honor the legacy of those who came before me; and to give back and bring others with me. I am grateful to be in this role of Assistant Professor of Liberal Studies at CSU Stanislaus and will continue to use my voice, resources, knoweldge, and care to create spaces of love and resistance in academia.

Creating Community

Where communities don't exist, we create them. These are a few communities I helped create that are still thriving:

Latinx Ph.D. Student Collective, founder (2011) - First collective created within the Rossier School of Education Ph.D. Program (University of Southern California) to support and uplift Latinx Ph.D. students. This collective was created as a response to racism, classism, sexism, microaggressions, and the culture of push-out. Created with the support of friend and cohort-member: Rodolfo Acosta, Ph.D.
Femtorship Program, co-founder (2018) - Created by leaders of the Institute of Teachers of Color Committed to Racial Justice (ITOC) to offer caring, non hierarchical femtorship based on reciprocity and mutual care. I was asked to co-create the first femtorship program offered through ITOC.
Amigas on the Tenure Track, founder (2022) - Community of Women of Color in their first year on the tenure track at CSU Stanislaus. Group created to build a network of care and community among women of color professors through retention, promotion, and tenure.