Ariana Aparicio Aguilar, Ph.D.

Keynote Speaker | Higher Ed Administrator | Educator | Qualitative Researcher

Learn More About Ariana

About Ariana

Dr. Ariana Aparicio is a higher education advocate, researcher, and speaker dedicated to advancing equity, access, and success for underrepresented students. Born in Mexico City and raised in Northern California, she is a proud first-generation and undocumented scholar. She obtained her Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Policy at UC Riverside. Ariana has over a decade of experience supporting immigrant, first-gen, and marginalized students in higher education. Through engaging workshops and keynote presentations, she shares her personal journey, research, and expertise to empower students, educators, and institutions to create more inclusive and equitable educational spaces.

Publications

Aguilar A. A. (2025). I Graduated from Harvard, You Can too! You Got This! You Are Not Alone. Editor Lettie Ramirez. Velázquez Press.

Vue, R., Ly, K. T., Porter, T. & Aguilar, A. A. (2024). Feeling the Threat of Race in Education: Exploring the Cultural Politics of Emotions in CRT ban discourses. Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis. https://doi.org/10.3102/01623737231221155

Vue, R., Porter, T., & Aguilar, A. A. (2023). Toward becoming: A framework for generative stories and possibilities. Philosophy and Theory in Higher Education, 5(1), 53-76. https://doi.org/10.3726/PTIHE.012023.0004

Aguilar A. A. (2023). I Graduated from Harvard, You Can too! You Are Not Alone: Recipes to Obtain SUCCESS for High School Students. Editor Lettie Ramirez. Velázquez Press.

Aguilar A. A. (2020). From Mexico to Harvard. You Are Not Alone: Recipes to Obtain Success by Students for Students. Editor Lettie Ramirez. Velázquez Press.

Invited Talks

2026 Workshop on “Stepping into Your Future: Transfer, Graduate School, and Beyond” at Santa Rosa Junior College, Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS)

2025 “Keynote: for Hispanic Heritage Month” Keynote Address, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD

2025 “Keynote: LULAC of Riverside Council #3190 Scholarship Award Ceremony” Keynote Address, Riverside, CA

2025 “Keynote: “12th Annual Latinx Celebration” Keynote Address, Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA

2024 “Keynote: Multilingual Department Senior Recognition Ceremony” Keynote Address, Antelope Valley Union High School District, East Side High School, Lancaster, CA

2024 UC Riverside’s Education Abroad “Navigating Uncharted Waters: Undocumented Students' Resilience in Education Abroad” panelist (Virtual)

2023 “Keynote: Unidos en el Progreso” Keynote Address, Antelope Valley Union High School District’s, Lancaster, CA

2023 – “Keynote: 2023 UndocuGrad Ceremony” Keynote Address, Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA

2018 “Keynote: New Student Welcome” Keynote Address, Mendocino Community College, Mendocino, CA