Faculty Highlight: Dr. Rosemary Perez

Tell us about your research.
My research focus includes undergraduate student learning and development specifically the development and use of students’ internal voices (i.e., self-authorship) and intercultural learning and development. I also study graduate education, and am particularly interested in how graduate students learn within their disciplines and how they do and don't learn about diversity and inclusion. Through this research, I hope to answer the question of how can we change graduate education to engage meaningfully in dije work in their field to make graduate education a more affirming experience.

In light of your research, what is one thing you urge us to consider as we navigate this triple pandemic?
I believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has not created a new normal, rather I believe that it has amplified inequalities particularly the way in which graduate students receive institutional support. I urge us to consider the implementation of better graduate student support by creating spaces for healing, reconsidering notions of productivity and balance, compensating the use of graduate student labor, and treating students with greater compassion.

In the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, what are ways that we can leverage technology to promote healing, anti-racism and liberation?
The use of technology has pushed me to think differently about building community within my own teaching. For example, I have implemented music and videos into my courses, have adjusted my teaching based on students’ feedback, and created a space for my students to feel connected. Additionally, I am aware of students’ gendered and racialized realities and our need to create space to talk about them in class rather than to ignore them since we are online.