Michelle C. Velasco (she/her/siya)

Michelle Velasco is a Ph.D. student at UCLA in Race, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies in Education. She is a proud Pinay, descendant of immigrants, and first-generation college student. Her research interests examine the social, cultural, and historic institutions that influence how Pilipinx students navigate higher education. More specifically, she analyzes the role of race/racism (and other intersecting forms of oppression) on how Pilipinx students (and students of color largely) access and retain themselves from postsecondary education. She completed her M.A. in Education at CSULB in Social and Cultural Analysis of Education & her B.A in Sociology and Global Studies at UCLA. Prior to doctoral education, she worked as a TRiO college advisor and coordinator to support low-income and first-generation students of color navigate higher education. Now, Michelle serves as the Assistant Director for the Center for Critical Race Studies in Education (CCRSE) and is a CSU Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program Fellow.