Semester Award Granted
Summer 2025
Submission Date
August 2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Cristobal Salinas Jr.
Abstract
Queer Latin* college students can thrive in colleges that provide supportive environments with resources that lead to education and development. Queer resources exist to support Queer students and educate the college population on queer topics; as student services spaces, the space enriches students' lives (Sanlo, 2000). However, Queer Latin* students experiences do not feel represented in queer resource spaces (Pryor, 2018). As such, the purpose of this instrumental case study was to examine the experiences of Queer Latin* college students and to explore how queer resources for Latin* Queer students promote success at a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The study was approached through criterion purposeful-based sampling of ten Queer Latin* students and three college administrators through interviews, observations, and multiple documents to understand the experiences of Queer Resources for Latin* Queer students.
Three findings emerged from the data analysis: Student-Centered, Supportive, and Inclusive Spaces; Creation of An Inclusive and Supportive Campus Environment that engages Queer Latin* Students is Vital for Their Well-Being, Success, and Visibility; and Affirmation, Institutional Support, and College Student Leadership Roles. Queer Latin* college student experience consisted of a welcoming environment, created in and out of the classroom that was inclusive and supportive towards the exploration of academic and lifelong pursuits.
Queer Latin* students defined queer resource effectiveness through having environments that engaged their community in their well-being, visibility, engagement, and continued amplification of resources. Queer Resources for Latin* Queer students promoted success through support and affirmation of their unique campus involvement journeys. Through acts of validation, Queer Latin* students and their unique experiences with in and out-of-class agents at a Hispanic-Serving Institution environment through this study affirmed success. Recommendations to scholars, institutions, and practitioners are included, as well as proposed policies, enhancement of resources, and standardization of campus environments. The word Latin* in this study includes all racial and ethnic gender identities of Latin American descent, including Latin, Latina, Latino, Latinx, Latine, Latini, and Latinu (Salinas, 2020).
Recommended Citation
Santos, Gary Mendoza, "A CASE STUDY OF QUEER LATIN* STUDENTS’ EXPERIENCE AT A HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTION" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 143.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general/143