Ethnic Studies Department
Sacramento State

Office: 563 Amador Hall
Office Phone: (916) 278-7569
Email: figueroa@csus.edu

Background Information

Julie López Figueroa, Ph.D. is an assistant professor in the Ethnic Studies Department at California State University, Sacramento. Dr. Figueroa applies a sociocultural lens to examine the academic experiences of first generation minority students, and, in particular Latino males, within the context of higher education. Working within this perspective, issues related to teaching and learning, qualitative research, and service learning are also analyzed. Most recently, Dr. Figueroa co-authored a chapter, Tracing institutional racism in higher education: Academic practices of Latino male undergraduates published in a book titled, Addressing racism: Facilitating cultural competence in mental health and educational settings.

Dr. Figueroa grew up in San Jose, California and is one of four children born to Mexican immigrant and migrant parents, Macedonio and Maria Figueroa. She double majored in Sociology and Chicano Studies from UC Davis, received her M.A. in Education from UC Santa Cruz, and completed her doctoral degree at UC Berkeley.

Research Interests

Sociocultural perspectives on minority student and their schooling experiences in higher education, with an emphasis on Chicano/Latinos, Qualitative Research and schooling issues in diverse communities, and teaching and learning in diverse contexts within the discussion points of policy and practice.

Publications

1. Figueroa, J.L. & Sánchez, P. (2008). Technique, Art, or Cultural Practice: Ethnic Epistemology in Latino Qualitative Studies. In T. P. Fong (Ed.), Ethnic Studies research: Approaches and perspectives (143-178). Landham, MD: Altamira Press.

2. Figueroa, J.L. & Garcia, E. (2006). Tracing institutional racism in higher education: Academic practices of Latino Male Undergraduates. In M. Constantine and D. W. Sue, (Eds.), Addressing racism: Facilitating cultural competence in mental health and educational settings (pp. 195-212). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

3. Gender Issues within the Latina/o Educational Experience: A Critical Dialogue
   Role: Co-Presenter on Panel
   American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, San Antonio, TX (March 5, 2009)

4. From College Choice to the Doctoral Experience: Implications and Considerations for Navigating the Latina/o Educational Pipeline
   Role: Presenter
   Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), Jacksonville, FL (November 7, 2008)