ELEVATING LATINA VOICES OF LEADERSHIP: Latina Student Leaders’ Beliefs, Approaches, and Influences to Leadership

Abstract

There is a recent call for and emergence of leadership research that purposefully centers students' social identities and lived experiences in order to gain more nuanced understandings of college student leadership development and elevate marginalized voices in the leadership narrative. In this qualitative study, the researchers focused on the leadership approaches of Latina college student leaders at Hispanic Serving Institutions and the influences that shape their approaches to leadership. The findings reveal participants' unique forms of capital as well as sources of on-campus support that shape and influence their leadership beliefs and styles, including a focus on community, a commitment to making a positive impact, and non-hierarchical approaches to leadership.

A Qualitative Inquiry on the Factors Related to Students’ Disengagement in Leadership Roles

“…Next, the researchers identified and selected key statements, organized those statements into clusters, and formulated and assigned themes for each cluster. Then, based on the formulated themes, codes were given to the statements of the informants and were assigned appropriate categories to ensure that the data collected is accurately analyzed and interpreted (Curran & Fuselier, 2020). In addition, relevant literature and studies were cited carefully to support their research findings (Pedroso & Pacit, 2022).…”

“…In addition, relevant literature and studies were cited carefully to support their research findings (Pedroso & Pacit, 2022). To ensure that the analysis is valid and reliable, collected data were continuously compared to the data sources (Glaser & Strauss, 1967;Curran & Fuselier, 2020).…”

“…In a university setting, campus organizations are some avenues for students to showcase and hone their leadership skills (Dugan, 2008;Rosch & Collins, 2019). The knowledge about the importance of leadership among students and the factors affecting their motivation in engaging in leadership roles within university organizations has already been established (Renchler, 1992;Rosch, Collier, & Thompson, 2015;Curran & Fuselier, 2020). This existing knowledge is essential in building knowledge on exploring a new topic about students' disengagement in leadership roles in university organizations.…”

“…This existing knowledge is essential in building knowledge on exploring a new topic about students' disengagement in leadership roles in university organizations. Several studies have suggested that some factors that motivate students to participate in leadership roles in school organizations include the increasing job opportunities in the future and the sense of purpose they gain (Cartier, 2018;Curran & Fuselier, 2020). On the other hand, holding a leadership position in campus organizations can cause stress to students as these two are considered to be "inseparably connected" (Caraig et al, 2020).…”

Centering minority‐serving institutions to counter dominant narratives about leadership identity development

“…Haber‐Curran and Tapia‐Fuselier (2020) examined 16 Latina students’ leadership approaches at an HSI. Latina student leaders practiced non‐hierarchical leadership while seeking to contribute to their communities positively.…”