PhD, Economics of Education, Stanford University
Tatiana Melguizo, a highly accomplished professor and a leader in the fields of education and economics, passed away in January 2024.
Tatiana was an amazing scholar who championed minoritized student populations and community colleges. Her research paved new understandings of barriers to student access and success focused on assessments/testing, advising, introductory courses and other key barriers. She served for much of her career as a faculty member at the Rossier School of Education at USC, where she was a dedicated teacher and advisor.
More importantly though, she was a kind scholar who mentored students and early career scholars and gave generously of her time to help develop others. Tatiana worked together with the entire Pullias and Rossier family to advance equity in higher education.
Learn more about her remarkable life, and by watching the 2018 video below, in her own words.
About Tatiana:
Dr. Melguizo was a Professor in the USC Rossier School of Education and the Pullias Center. She received a Ph.D. in Economics of Education from Stanford University and a M.A. in Social Policy from the London School of Economics, and worked in the field of economics of higher education. She used quantitative methods of analysis to study the association or impact of different factors, educational programs, as well as public policies on the persistence and educational outcomes of minority and low-income students.
Her work was published in Educational Researcher, Education Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Teachers College Record, The Journal of Higher Education, The Review of Higher Education, Research in Higher Education, Journal of Research in Educational Effectiveness, AERA Open, Higher Education and World Development. Dr. Melguizo received grants from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), National Science Foundation (NSF), Spencer foundation, AERA, the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, College Futures Foundation, Leonetti O’Connell Foundation, Jack Kent Cooke, Nellie Mae and Lumina foundations and from the Association for Institutional Research, National Postsecondary Education Cooperative (AIR/NPEC).
Expertise
Community college | College graduation rates | STEM reform
Donate to the Tatiana Melguizo Memorial Scholarship Fund for Community College Transfer Students
A new scholarship honoring Dr. Tatiana Melguizo has been established by the University of Southern California and the Pullias Center for Higher Education.
The ‘Tatiana Melguizo Memorial Scholarship Fund for Community College Transfer Students’ honors Dr. Melguizo’s commitment and research supporting community college students and ensuring their success. A highly-accomplished professor and a leader in the fields of education and economics, she passed away in January 2024.
The scholarship fund was established by the Pullias Center to honor Dr. Melguizo’s long-standing commitment to community college students, and will be used to support incoming USC undergraduates transferring from local community colleges. Tax-deductible donations to the scholarship fund are now being accepted.
On April 8, the Rossier, Pullias and higher education communities came together to remember our dear friend and colleague with tributes from colleagues, friends and family. The memorial service is available for viewing here.
Meet Professor Melguizo
Pullias Center faculty member Tatiana Melguizo talks about her family history, her approach to student advising, and the power of numbers to change people's lives in this 2018 video.
Projects
Latest News
Professor Tatiana Melguizo Memorial Service Set for April 8, 2024
Pullias Center and USC Establish Memorial Scholarship Honoring Professor Tatiana Melguizo
A Tribute to Tatiana: The Power of Building Deep, Lasting Relationships with Colleagues and Students
A Tribute to Tatiana: Valuing Connections and Relationships and Welcoming Opportunities for Learning and Growth
A Tribute to Tatiana: Doing Research to Enhance Students’ Experiences and Outcomes
A Tribute to Tatiana: Busting Organizational Barriers for Students in Math and STEM
A Tribute to Tatiana: An Unwavering and Deeply-felt Commitment to Students
Tatiana Melguizo, respected professor and a leader in the fields of education and economics, passes away at the age of 55
Rigorous Math Classes in High School Lead Students to More College Math and STEM Courses
New Report Examines Impact of Basic Needs Assistance to Community College Students
Pullias Center Invitational Conference Highlights Key Successes and Challenges of AB705 Implementation in LACCD
What Do Logics Have To Do With It?
Taking 12th Grade Math Opens Doors to Higher Education, Research Finds
Tatiana Melguizo and Pullias Center to Study Community College STEM Opportunities with NSF Grant
Pullias Center partners with LACCD and researchers from Harvard’s CEPR to study Covid-19 recovery
Publications
Lost in the transition: The cost of college-readiness standards misalignment in English for Previously Classified English Learners
The equity cost of inter-sector math misalignment: Racial and gender disparities in community college outcomes
Mis/Alignment between high school and community college standards
The methodological challenges of measuring student outcomes in higher education
