About this event

Session Block C, 1:00-2:00

Room 301, Graduate Student Lounge

Title: Border Crossings and Academic Journeys: Non-Traditional Students Navigate Imposter Syndrome in College

Description: This panel features five Mexican American non-traditional students from the University of Texas at El Paso who share how imposter syndrome shapes their academic journeys at a Hispanic-Serving Institution on the U.S.-Mexico border. Panelists include older students returning to school, a student on the autism spectrum, and a married couple commuting daily from Juárez, all navigating intersecting identities of age, culture, language, and neurodiversity. Their stories highlight the emotional costs of constant code-switching and the unique challenges of balancing multiple worlds, alongside strategies of resilience and perseverance. The panel emphasizes the value of non-traditional perspectives in enriching academic communities and offers recommendations for creating supportive, culturally responsive spaces to help these students thrive.

Presenters: Adrián Aragones, Jason Medina, Alejandra García, Victor García, & Job Armengo

Format: Panel 

Complexity: Advanced

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Room 356, Rita Laden Senate Chambers

Title: Historical changes in the associations between peer victimization on school absences and depression in Brazil

Description: This pilot study examined 35 seniors from a Bronx high school specializing in health professions, where less than 1% of local students pursue science careers. Most participants were Hispanic females aged 17–18. Findings show 77% intend to pursue health careers, 65% plan to take health courses in college, and 74% find health sciences exciting. However, 30–35% expressed low enthusiasm for science, and 42% were uncertain about their STEM abilities. The study suggests that proficiency in health disparities topics can shape attitudes, motivation, and ultimately diversify the biomedical and healthcare workforce with an equity-focused approach.

Presenters: Jonathan Santo & Josafa Da Cunha

Format: Research Paper

Complexity: Introductory

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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.

Presenters: Marlene Brito

Format: Research Paper

Complexity: Introductory

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Room 403, The Great Room

Title: Language as Presence: Translating Identity and Belonging in the Documentary “Translators”

Description: The short documentary Translators explores the experiences of Latino/a children who serve as language mediators for their families in schools, workplaces, healthcare, and daily life. Following three youth, it highlights the resilience and burdens of bilingualism, where children often carry adult responsibilities in high-stakes situations. This role fosters cultural pride but also underscores systemic failures when institutions neglect to provide proper translation resources, reinforcing inequities. By centering bilingual youth as cultural mediators, the project affirms Latino/a presence, identity, and resilience while calling for language justice. Panelists will discuss translation, advocacy, and strategies to better support families across education, healthcare, and community settings

Presenters: Ahtziri Palomo, Yaritza Benites Mora, Vania Carter-Strauss, Lizbeth Flores-Cortez, Cynthia Acosta-Pizana, Juan Placencia, & Anthony Ponticello

Format: Panel

Complexity: Introductory

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Room 422

Title: If You Build it, Will They Come? Public Charge and Public Health Interventions among Latino Families in California

Description: Latino immigrant communities face worsening inequities in access to healthcare and safety net programs, with participation in Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF declining sharply—particularly among children in mixed-status families. These declines, fueled by policy-driven chilling effects and systemic barriers, have deepened health disparities and left many children uninsured or unsupported. In response, the Bridges2Health initiative in Southern California embeds Community Health Advocates in schools to connect families with medical homes, enrollment services, and community resources. This research examines how schools and federally qualified health centers collaborate in this model, highlighting both opportunities and structural challenges. Findings underscore the need for community-driven, culturally competent approaches and stronger policy alignment to protect immigrant families and promote equity for Latino children.

Presenters: Konane Martínez

Format: Research Paper

Complexity: Intermediate

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Room 423

Title: Saliendo Adelante amid Incarceration and Viruses: Testimony of Mixed-Status Family Separation and Pandemic Vulnerability

Description: This presentation offers an autoethnographic account of family deportation during the COVID-19 pandemic, examining the intersection of race, immigration status, and public health. It highlights the neglect and dehumanization experienced in ICE detention centers, where immigrants were rendered a “disposable population” during a global crisis. The narrative extends beyond detention to consider life after deportation, including family reunification and the realities of living across the U.S.-Mexico border. By centering lived experience, the presentation underscores the vulnerabilities of immigrant communities while affirming their resilience and resistance.

Presenter: Dalia Gudino Landeros

Format: Research Paper

Complexity: Introductory

Additional information

• Attendance type: In person