About this event

Session Block C, 1:00-2:00

Room 301, Graduate Student Lounge

Title: Imposter Syndrome among Mexican American Students at Border Colleges: A Journey of Discovery

Description: This panel examines the struggles of Mexican American students at a Hispanic-serving institution on the U.S.-Mexico border, with a focus on imposter syndrome and its impact on academic and personal well-being. Students often experience self-doubt, heightened by stereotypes, systemic barriers, and the emotional toll of navigating between cultural worlds and expectations. These challenges can lead to stress, anxiety, and decreased motivation, yet research on imposter syndrome in HSIs remains limited. Panelists—first- and second-generation Mexican and Mexican American students—share research and personal narratives of resilience, emphasizing the need for culturally engaging spaces and institutional support. By highlighting solutions and support frameworks, the presentation advocates for environments where Latinx students can thrive with confidence and pride in their identities.

Presenters: Adrián Aragones, Carolina Cardoza-Herrera, Daaiyah M. Foster, Alisa J. Sierra, Alondra Galindo-González & Mariana X. García

Format: Panel Session

Complexity: Advanced

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Room 356, Rita Laden Senate Chambers

Title: Empowering Latino Futures: Building Social Capital through Community, Culture, and Connection

Description: Latino/a communities drive social, economic, and cultural innovation across the United States, yet systemic barriers continue to restrict equitable opportunities. These challenges are especially pronounced for young, multicultural individuals from historically underserved backgrounds. In this presentation, Jeurys Santiago, Afro-Latino CEO and founder of Minds With Purpose, highlights the power of building social capital as a transformative tool to affirm Latino/a presence, identity, and leadership.

Presenter: Jeurys Santiago

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Room 402

Title: The College to Career Transition of Latinx First-Generation College Students

Description: This presentation shares key findings and outcomes from a phenomenological study focused on how Latinx FGC students navigate college resources and leverage social networks during the college-to-career transition. Attendees can expect to learn about the lived experience of Latinx FGCS during this transition period and how to leverage the findings from this study to design programs and policies that support students with resources and support systems for successful workforce entrance.

Presenter: Marlene Brito

Format: Research Paper

Complexity: Introductory

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Room 403, The Great Room

Title: The Afterlives of Sound: Memory, Ethnography, and the Borderlands

Description: The album Sonorous Present is an immersive poetic and musical project that reflects on loss, migration, and memory across America’s borderlands. Originating as an experimental performance inspired by his award-winning book Sounds of Crossing, it evolved into a studio album produced with Grammy winner Quetzal Flores and other renowned artists from Mexican son, poetry, and jazz. Drawing on years of borderlands research and personal experience, Chávez weaves together regional Mexican and Latin American sounds with ethnographic songwriting. His presentation highlights how the work reimagines both the possibilities of a studio album and the forms scholarship itself can take.

Presenter: Alex E. Chávez

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Room 422

Title: Reclaiming Space, Inspiring Change: Creating “Movimiento ChucanX” in the Era of Manufactured Fear

Description: In response to escalating hostility toward immigrants and communities of color, Chicano/a/x students at the University of Texas at El Paso founded Movimiento ChucanX in January 2025. Rooted in cultural pride, political education, and community engagement, the organization draws inspiration from the Chicano Movement to resist erasure and foster activism. Members have organized historical walking tours, supported the opening of El Paso’s Mexican American Cultural Center, and participated in César Chávez commemorations, amplifying their voices locally and nationally. This panel highlights the political and institutional context behind the group’s founding, its key initiatives, and the role of identity-based organizing in shaping more just futures. Ultimately, Movimiento ChucanX embodies student resistance, cultural affirmation, and the power of collective action.

Presenters: Ruby Montana, Andrea Galeano, Jason Medina

Format: Panel

Complexity: Intermediate

Additional information

• Attendance type: In person