A Generational Link: CGU Scholars Take the Stage at AERA

When Daniel G. Solórzano opened the American Educational Research Association conference by delivering its annual Brown lecture, he put CGU in front of one of the largest gatherings of educators in North America. This lecture began in 2004 as a way to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, which ended legal racial discrimination in public schools. Solórzano’s work on race and microaggressions made him the perfect choice for this year’s conference.  

 A senior research fellow at the School of Educational Studies, Solórzano is a professor of social science and comparative education at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. His research has focused on the impact of racism on Chicano and Latinx students and on how to combat racism in education. His achievements and continuing connection with CGU have helped pave the way for future SES students through his mentorship and success.  

His address at the conference also solidified a generational link between CGU students and alumni. 

“Seeing a distinguished CGU alumnus such as Dr. Solórzano made me feel as though this really is possible,” said Levon Ghanimian, a middle school teacher in Los Angeles and a PhD student. “His role was a large sense of pride for all of us CGU students and alumni. It was like we had a sense of ownership at the conference. … It made us feel like CGU has a place at the table.” 

SES worked with donors to make sure that mid-career students like Ghanimian, as well as those just beginning their educational journey, could attend the conference and present their original research. 

“We are doing important work in SES, said DeLacy Ganley, dean of the school.  In some ways, I think the questions we are asking, the populations we are advocating for, the research and discussions we are advancing are more important than ever. I think the prevalence to which we were all over the AERA program is a reflection that there is interest in the work we are doing.”   

Ganley stressed the generational link and how CGU’s history of focusing on critical issues in education has placed its graduates in conversation with each other.  “Conferences like AERA are like family reunions. The older generation takes to the stage and shares their wisdom and perspective. Budding researchers, like our grad students, are entering the conversation. They are doing roundtables and poster sessions.  Mid-career folks are spearheading the paper sessions. Collectively, it is a conversation about the issues that matter to our educational family.” 

For Lindsey Kunisaki, attending AERA with her cohort has shaped her time at CGU. “AERA convenes a vast community of educational researchers that often pushes me to expand beyond my usual academic lanes. As a presenter, it is also an important way to get feedback on the research I have been doing since my time as a student. I turn to my professional community of fellow researchers to sharpen my thinking about the research and its broader purpose.” 

Her opportunities expand beyond her own scholarship, “AERA is also a generative space for collaborations. This year, I presented the result of a collaboration that began at AERA last year; I worked together with a former CGU classmate and a new colleague to conduct a study and develop it into a manuscript that is now under review for publication.” 

 CGU students presented over 66 original works of scholarship, setting a record for the school at this conference.  

This requires a strong support system, including donors.  

“SES has patrons, notably the Schuster family and Dr. Marilyn Gaddis, who recognize the importance of students entering this conversation,” Ganley said.  “They understand the importance of such conferences in the professional identity formation process. Because AERA was local this year, we were able to support all SES students who wanted to attend with membership and conference fees.” 

John Edward Estoesta, an assistant principal who is working toward a PhD in Urban Leadership, said conferences such as AERA’s are indispensable to scholars of color. 

“The presence and leadership of BIPOC scholars, such as Dr. Daniel Solórzano, researchers, and practitioners, reinforced the importance of our voices, experiences, and contributions within educational research,” he said. “The conference reminded me of how contemporary scholarship is about co-producing knowledge, building community, and creating pathways for future generations of scholars and leaders.”  

Estoesta also highlighted the way research directly informs work in the field. 

“As someone working in K-12 educational leadership while pursuing a PhD, I learned from scholars whose work addresses equity, identity, leadership, and educational transformation. The conference reaffirmed my belief that research must remain connected to the communities and students we serve.”  

To learn more about CGU’s School of Educational Studies, you can check out their website for programs, faculty, and research centers!