This May, the Pullias Center is proud to have four of our hard-working PhD students graduating from the Rossier School of Education, as well as staff member Yasmin Kadir graduating from the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy with her Masters in Public Administration. Please join us in offering our sincerest congratulations to all — including PhD students Edgar Fidel Lopez, Maritza Salazar, Natsumi Ueda and Elif Yücel. Now, with doctoral degrees in hand, these new grads reflect on their time at the Center and share their future plans to promote equity and positive change in higher education.
Edgar Fidel Lopez
How do you feel about graduating from Rossier after five years? Graduating from Rossier after five years stirs up a mix of emotions. I am proud of all the countless hours of hard work, dedication, and perseverance that have led me to complete such a rigorous program. Yet, I also feel nostalgic for the significant academic and personal growth I have experienced during my time at Rossier. Despite the inevitable challenges I encountered along the way, the journey has been nothing short of remarkable, filled with valuable lessons, cherished memories, and transformative milestones. Overall, it has been an incredible journey.
What has been the most impactful experience you’ve had since you’ve been a student here? When I first arrived at USC in the fall of 2019, I noticed a lack of dedicated spaces for Latina/o/x graduate students. As the pandemic began in early 2020, I took the initiative, alongside a few other friends, to revive the Latinx Graduate Student Association (LGSA) to create a supportive and inclusive community where 200+ Latina/o/x graduate students could connect, share resources, and advocate for their needs. For two academic years leading LGSA, I developed biweekly newsletters, facilitated virtual communal spaces, and established a scholarship fund. Additionally, I actively encouraged numerous individuals to pursue doctoral programs and provided assistance ranging from sharing resources to editing personal statements. For the past year as a director in the USC Graduate Student Government (GSG), I collaborated with other dedicated colleagues to manage student resources, uplift student voices, and enhance the USC graduate and professional student experience across all interdisciplinary fields. Reflecting on my journey, spearheading student-led initiatives (e.g., LGSA, Latinx PhD Collective, etc.) to advocate for Latina/o/x graduate students and other marginalized groups has been the most impactful experience during my time at USC.
What’s one of your favorite memories of working with other students and faculty members? One of my favorite memories has been collaborating with other students on research projects, proposals, and presentations. The synergy created through our shared efforts was truly inspiring, as we pooled our diverse experiences and skills to analyze complex issues and bringing our ideas into fruition. Collaborating on multiple projects and publishing a couple of pieces, not to mention the friendships I have made along the way, made the experience incredibly fulfilling.
How has your USC Pullias/Rossier experience changed you as a researcher/scholar? My experiences as a research assistant in the USC Pullias Center for Higher Education have shaped me as a researcher and scholar. Through engaging with diverse research projects and methodologies, I have honed my qualitative research skills to a high level of proficiency. Over the last five years, I have learned how to design research studies, collect and analyze data, and synthesize findings into meaningful insights. Now, I feel much more confident to make meaningful contributions to the field of higher education research.
What are your plans post-graduation? My plans involve prioritizing quality time with my family while taking some well-deserved rest and recovery. Soon after, I will be actively preparing to transition into the job market. I will be exploring opportunities in various areas, including seeking tenure-track faculty positions, roles within non-profit organizations, and positions within industry.
Maritza Salazar
How do you feel about graduating from Rossier after 4 years? I am grateful for the memories, relationships and experiences that Rossier gave me. I will miss the Rossier PhD community and all the support they have provided me over the last four years. I am proud of the work I did while at Rossier and am excited to continuing growing as a researcher/scholar.
What has been the most impactful experience you’ve had since you’ve been a student here? The most impactful experience I have had since being a student at USC was serving as the instructor of record for Education for Social Change. My undergraduate students inspired me and reminded me about the power of teaching and learning. I am thankful to have had such a brilliant group of students who trusted me and challenged me.
What’s one of your favorite memories of working with other students and faculty members? Attending the SCOPE monthly writing rooms were some of my favorite memories while at Rossier. It was so special to have a dedicated space and time to co-work with other Rossier PhD students and hear about my peers’ exciting projects and opportunities. Many thanks to Elif Yücel for all her hard work and dedication in organizing these events for Rossier PhD students.
How has your USC Pullias/Rossier experience changed you as a researcher/scholar? The faculty and students at USC have continued to inspire me and support me in all of my endeavors. They have uplifted me and believed in me and my ideas when I didn’t. Special thanks to Shafiqa Ahmadi and Dr. Darnell Cole for providing me with my first research assistantship at USC Rossier; to Dr. Adrian Huerta for helping me become the researcher/scholar I am today; to my Rossier committee members Dr. Julie Marsh and Dr. Julie Posselt for their continuous guidance; and to Alex Hazard and Laura Romero in the PhD office for being my fairy godmothers while at USC. I appreciate you all immensely.
What are your plans post-graduation? I am excited to continue my life-long journey of dismantling systems of inequity within education systems and beyond.
Natsumi Ueda
How do you feel about graduating from Rossier after 4 years? I feel proud of myself for persevering through the process and grateful for all the support I received from my advisor, peers, PhD office, Pullias Center, friends and family. THANK YOU!
What has been the most impactful experience you’ve had since you’ve been a student here? Being surrounded by people who are so passionate and committed to education equity and justice has continuously inspired me to work hard.
What’s one of your favorite memories of working with other students and faculty members? As a student who started the program in 2020 and took all courses online, it was most memorable for me to attend an in-person qualitative methods course as a Teaching Assistant with wonderful students and professor Artineh Samkian in my third year.
How has your USC Pullias/Rossier experience changed you as a researcher/scholar? Working with Adrianna Kezar and being a part of the Shared Equity Leadership project has been definitely the most impactful experience shaping my scholarly identity. As a researcher and scholar, I'm committed to continuing my research on leadership and collaboration for equity and institutional change.
What are your plans post-graduation? Still undecided, but I'm staying in LA and looking for an academic/research/teaching job!
Elif Yücel
How do you feel about graduating from Rossier after 5 years? I feel grateful to have met so many amazing people who have uplifted me over the last 5 years. I learned so much about myself and the type of scholar I hope to become. I wouldn’t have traded the experience for anything else.
What has been the most impactful experience you’ve had since you’ve been a student here? I don’t think I could name the most impactful experience, but the people I’ve met along the way of this journey have been the most impactful part of my journey. The professors and mentors who have guided me and the friends across cohorts whom I have created lifelong friendships with are what have sustained me over the years.
What’s one of your favorite memories of working with other students and faculty members? The bullpen in my first year of the program. We would always come in to the bullpen to work and study and have late nights eating Chinese food and binging candy. Finding out Erika was a Real Housewives fan. Presenting with my research team at AERA in San Diego and having a celebratory lunch after with everyone: Tatiana, Cheryl, Federick, Elise, David, Glenda, and myself.
How has your USC Pullias/Rossier experience changed you as a researcher/scholar? Pullias has been an amazing home and community for me as a scholar. I’ve learned so much from how others have modeled undertaking critical equity work in higher ed and ensuring it has an impact beyond the confines of academia.
What are your plans post-graduation? I will be working at the ECMC Foundation as an Associate Learning and Evaluation Officer.
Congratulations to our 2024 graduates! As the Pullias Center continues into the summer, our researchers, faculty and staff invite you to visit our website, follow us on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin), and sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date with the Pullias Center’s research and practice.
