Crystal E. Garcia

Assistant Professor

Department of Educational Administration University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Address: TEAC 118
Lincoln NE 68588-0360
Phone: 402-472-3726 On-campus 2-3726
Email: crystalgarcia@unl.edu
Social Media

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Dr. Crystal E. Garcia’s research critically examines the mechanisms by which racially minoritized college students experience campus environments, specifically focusing on campus climates and the role of student affairs in student experiences. Dr. Garcia is a 2021-2023 ACPA Emerging Scholar-Designee and was awarded the 2022 NASPA Faculty Council Early Career Award , the 2020 NASPA Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community Outstanding Faculty Award, the 2018 AERA Hispanic Research Issues SIG Dissertation of the Year Award, and the 2018 ACPA Burns B. Crookston Doctoral Research Award. Her work has been published in journals including The Journal of College Student Development, The Review of Higher Education, The Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, and the Journal of Hispanic Higher Education. Dr. Garcia is the co-chair of the Association for the Study of Higher Education’s Council on Ethnic Participation’s Mentor-Protégé Program, a member of the ACPA Commission for Professional Preparation Directorate, and a member of the Editorial Boards for the Journal of College Student Development, the Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, and the College Student Affairs Journal. Her current research projects include a critical analysis of anti-racist practice in sorority and fraternity life, an examination of the experiences of Queer People of Color in culturally-based fraternities and sororities, and an exploration of ways student affairs professionals articulate and enact commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Prior to her role at Nebraska, Dr. Garcia served as an Assistant Professor of Administration of Higher Education at Auburn University. She also previously worked in several capacities within student affairs and taught high school speech and debate. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Studies specializing in Educational Leadership and Higher Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Originally from Texas, she also obtained her B.S. and M.S. degrees from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Watch Crystal Garcia Faculty Profile Video

Education

Ph.D., Educational Leadership and Higher Education, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2017
M.S., Higher Education Administration, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2012
B. S., Speech Communications, Texas A&M University-Commerce, 2008

Areas of Expertise

Higher Education and Student Affairs
Campus Climate
Culturally-Based Fraternities and Sororities
Critical Analysis
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Qualitative Methods

Teaching and Advising

Dr. Garcia teaches doctoral students in the Educational Leadership and Higher Educaiton specialization as well as masters students in the student affairs administration specialization program.

Select Publications

Garcia, C. E., Walker, W., Jenkins, S., & Smith, K. (in press). Culturally-based fraternities and sororities: Representation via institutional websites. Journal of College Student Development.
Garcia, C. E., Walker, W., Johns, J., Dorsey, C., & Werninck, Z. (in press). Culturally based sororities and fraternities as spaces of activism within predominantly white institutions. Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors.
Garcia, C. E., Walker, W., Morgan, D., Shi, Y. (2021). Aligning student affairs practice with espoused commitments to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Journal of College Student Development, 62(2), 137-153.
Duran, A., & Garcia, C. E. (2021). Quaring sorority life: Identity negotiation of queer women of color in culturally-based sororities. Journal of College Student Development, 62(2), 186-202.
Garcia, C. E., & Duran, A. (2020). “In my letters, but I was still by myself”: Highlighting the experiences of Queer Men of Color in culturally based fraternities. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Advance online publication.
Garcia, C. E. (2020). Belonging in a predominantly White institution: The role of membership in multicultural fraternities and sororities. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, 13(2), 181-193.
Garcia, C. E. (2019). Climates for ethnic and racial diversity: Latina/o sorority and fraternity member perspectives. Journal of Student Affairs Research and Practice, 57(3), 237-252.
Garcia, C. E. (2019). “They don't even know that we exist”: Exploring sense of belonging within sorority and fraternity communities for Latina/o members. Journal of College Student Development, 60(3), 319-336.
Garcia, C. E., Arnberg, B., Weise, J., & Winborn, M. (2019). Institutional responses to events challenging campus climates: Examining the power in language. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Advance online publication.

Current Research and Projects

Dr. Garcia's current research projects include a critical content analysis of how culturally-based fraternities and sororities are represented on institutional FSL websites, an examination of the experiences of Queer People of Color in culturally-based fraternities and sororities, and an exploration of ways student affairs professionals articulate and enact commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Courses Taught

College Students in America
Higher Education in America

Honors and Recognition

2021-2023, ACPA Emerging Scholar- Designee
2020, NASPA Latinx/a/o Knowledge Community Outstanding Faculty Award
2019, Auburn University Multicultural Greek Council Faculty Advisor of the Year
2019-2020, NASPA Emerging Faculty Leader Academy Region III Representative
2018, Dissertation of the Year Award, AERA Hispanic Research Issues SIG
2018, Burns B. Crookston Doctoral Research Award, ACPA Commission for Professional Preparation
2016, Hutchinson Fellowship, UNL Department of Educational Administration
2015, ASHE Graduate Student Travel Scholarship
2015, Dr. Joe V Aguilar Fellowship, UNL Department of Educational Administration

Experience

2020-Present, Assistant Professor, Educational Administration, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
2017 – 2020, Assistant Professor, Administration of Higher Education, Auburn University
2014 – May 2017, Research Assistant, Educational Administration, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2014, Graduate Assistant, Office of New Student Enrollment, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
2013, Coordinator of Student Activities, Rayburn Student Center, Texas A&M University-Commerce
2012-2013, Graduate Assistant of Student Activities, Rayburn Student Center, Texas A&M University-Commerce
2008-2012, Teacher, Caddo Mills High School

Memberships

Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE)NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher EducationAmerican Educational Research Association (AERA)ACPA: College Student Educators International