Lucy Arellano

Lucy Arellano is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education with nearly twenty years of experience in higher education. Her research focuses on understanding how students from underrepresented backgrounds specifically Latinx and emerging majority students, navigate college and persist toward degree completion. She examines factors such as climate, student engagement, diversity, and the role of institutional structures in shaping education outcomes.

In addition to her research she is a co-principal investigator on an NSF project that connects Latinx Identity development with STEM identity at Hispanic-Serving Colleges. Her work is informed by her own experiences as a first generation Latina college student, and she is committed to advancing equity and improving opportunities for students through both research and service.