Ph.D., Higher Education, University of Southern California (in progress)

Gary Patrick Duran (he/him/his) is a Ph. D. student in the Education program at the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California. He engages, refines and evolves his wealth of experience, knowledge, skills and abilities through contributing and collaborating to consequential work with his colleagues and mentors as a Research Assistant at the Pullias Center for Higher Education and as a Research Associate at the USC Race and Equity Center.

Gary's burgeoning research foci and efforts thrive in the areas of student access, success, rights and protections. Namely, Gary investigates and interrogates systems that instigate and perpetuate nefarious disparities and outcomes that dehumanize, discourage or devalue racially and ethnically minoritized students' experiences with those systems. He relentlessly strives to amplify counter-narratives and develop sustainable solutions informed by reliable, reputable and valid data to prompt proper policy and achieve a more equitable education system and, as a result, a more equitable society.

Gary enjoys a great podcast or playlist, hiking to high elevations, swimming at low elevations, running marathons and daily meditation.