Dueñas Recognized as Outstanding Faculty by NASPA
Mary Dueñas, an assistant professor in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) in the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (CEHHS) was recently honored for her outstanding contributions in the field of student affairs. Dueñas received the Mena Valdez Outstanding Faculty Award at the NASPA annual conference held in New Orleans, Louisiana.
The award recognizes a faculty member who has made significant contributions to the field of student affairs and higher education through teaching, research, and mentorship. It honors individuals who demonstrate a commitment to advancing student success, particularly for historically marginalized communities. Recipients are distinguished by their dedication to fostering the development of future student affairs professionals and their impact on the broader higher education landscape.
Dueñas’s research is grounded in three central areas that support student success and well-being in higher education. Her first line of inquiry focuses on how students experience a sense of belonging and mattering in educational settings, and how they define success on their own terms. Her second area examines the role of culture and familial environments in shaping college experiences, with a focus on how institutions can better understand and support students’ cultural backgrounds. Her third line of research explores the connection between Latinx college students and impostor syndrome, examining how it influences their academic journeys. Across all of her work, Dr. Dueñas aims to inform practices that promote student access and foster environments where students feel they truly belong
Dueñas will also receive an honorable mention in the Early Career Award from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) LRI SIG this April in Denver, Colorado.