Andrea Maria Palacio

Background

About Andrea Maria Palacio

About Me I'm a dedicated higher education professional, researcher, and advocate committed to fostering equitable access, success, and belonging in STEM for historically marginalized and underrepresented students. As Assistant Director of Program Design & Development at the University of Arizona, I work at the intersection of culturally responsive pedagogy, student success, and STEM equity—designing programs that honor students’ lived experiences, cultural wealth, and aspirations. My Work & Research I co-lead the design and implementation of STEM Learning Communities, empowering first-year and transfer students to persist in STEM by leveraging funds of knowledge, community cultural wealth, and asset-based mentoring. My doctoral research explores motivation and self-regulated learning in college students, with a focus on how institutions can shift recruitment and retention strategies to center student & community voice and agency. I collaborate with faculty, advisors, and community partners to design equity-driven programming that supports Latine, first-generation, and underserved STEM students. Why I Do This Work My own journey—from a community college transfer student to a PhD student in Higher Education—drives my passion for creating pathways for students who, like me, have navigated higher education with resilience and cultural pride. I believe in centering students as experts in their own educational journeys and in transforming institutional structures to better serve them. 🤝 Let’s Connect! I’m always looking to collaborate on STEM student success initiatives, culturally responsive programming, and equity-driven research. If you’re working on similar efforts, let’s connect and share ideas!