Program Faculty

Dr. Liera anchored his scholarship on a theoretical understanding of university and college campuses as racialized organizations with cultures and structures constraining administrators and faculty efforts to advance racial equity. His current research projects focus on understanding how racism operates in doctoral student socialization, the academic job market, faculty hiring, reappointment, tenure and promotion, and presidential hiring. His research appears in the Journal of Higher Education, American Educational Research Journal, Teachers College Record, Review of Higher Education among others.

Racial Equity in Higher Education
Organizational Learning and Organizational Change
The Professoriate
Qualitative Research

Dr. Vega specializes in higher education access, equity, and success. Dr. Vega has publications in the areas of higher education finance, undocumented immigrants and policymaking, campus racial climate and culture, Minority Serving Institutions and racialized organizational conflict; and racial ideologies in Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) and predominantly white Institutions (PWI).

- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion facilitation, training, consultation for organizations
- Multicultural Competence teaching and training
- Campus Racial Climate
- Theory of Racialized Tasks in Organizations
- Student Affairs Administration
- Academic Affairs Administration

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS:

- 2016 Distinguished Service Award, New Jersey Institute of Technology
- 2013 Jean Baker Miller Training Institute Scholarship Recipient
- 2013 National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) Scholarship Recipient
- 2013 Montclair State University College of Education & Human Services Student Scholarship Recipient
- 2008 ACUI Region 3 Dr. Teresa Drummond Diversity Memorial Grant Recipient


CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:

Ayala, S.; VanEss, M.; & Hernandez, A. (2020). UBUNTU: I Am Because We Are. NASPA Student Affairs Region 2 2020 Conference. Virtual.

Hennessy, K., Damell, K., Ayala, S., & Gonzalez, C. (2018). Doctorates and Diapers: Women’s journey navigating the doctoral degree with Children. Rutgers Student Affairs Conference. New Brunswick, NJ

Hennessy, K., Damell, K., Ayala, S., Gonzalez, C., & Lendoff, D. (2018). Doctorates and Diapers: Women’s journey navigating the doctoral degree with children. The 100th NASPA Annual Conference. Philadelphia, PA

Smith, L. S., Sheely-Moore, A., Ahluwalia, M., & Ayala, S. (2018). Your very existence is an act of rebellion: Promoting mentorship of women of color academics. The 35th Annual Winter Roundtable on Psychology and Education. New York, NY

Ayala, S. & Schafer, K. (2018). If not now then when: Facilitating the Supervision Experience to Increase Multicultural Competencies. New York University (NYU) Student Affairs Conference. New York, NY

Ayala, S., Hernandez, A., Min, R. K., & Maccarone, A. (2017) From Undergraduate Student Leaders to Graduate Students: Lessons Learned as New Supervisors. NASPA Region II Careers in Student Affairs Conference. Ewing, NJ

Panelist (2016). All Together Different Reunion: Addressing the State of Diversity in Higher Education. New Jersey Institute of Technology. Newark, NJ

Munoz, O., Rivera, C., & Ayala, S. (2015). Dismantling Presumed Incompetence: Testimonies and Transformative Strategies for Latinas in Higher Education. National Conference on Race & Ethnicity (NCORE). Washington, DC

Tubilleja, I., Diaz, D. & Ayala, S. (2015). Diversity and Social Justice at a STEM Institution. Rutgers University Committee to Advance our Common Purposes Conference (RUCACP). New Brunswick, NJ

Ayala, S. (2014). Panelist and Speaker for the EOP Career-Edge Weekend. Plattsburgh State University. Plattsburgh, NY

Ayala, S. (2014). A Personal Narrative of the NASPA 2014 National Conference: Latinas Pursuing Doctoral Degrees. Montclair State University Research Symposium. Montclair, NJ

Ayala, S. & Bautista-Pertuz, S. (2014). Latinas Innovate Through Virtual Support: Forming an Online Network to Support Latinas Pursuing Doctoral Degrees. NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. Baltimore, MD

Ahluwalia, M., Ayala, S., Flores-Locke, A. & Walo-Roberts, S. (2014). Tired of Babysitting Racism: Moving Beyond Racial Battle Fatigue to Social Justice in Academia. Columbia University Teachers College 31st Annual Winter Roundtable on Cultural Psychology and Education. New York, NY

O’Halloran, K. & Ayala, S. (2013). Retention of Graduate Students of Color in Higher Education. Association of Adult Development and Aging: Diversity Within Personal and Professional Transition. New York, NY

Ayala, S. & Walo-Roberts, S. (2013). Disconnections on a College Campus: Using Relational Cultural Theory with Women of Color. Montclair State University Student Research Symposium. Montclair, NJ

Ayala, S. (2013). Being an Effective Faculty Officer. The Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society Drive-In. Albany, NY

Ayala, S. & Walo-Roberts, S. (2013). Disconnections on a College Campus: Using Relational Cultural Theory with Women of Color. NYU Student Affairs Conference. New York, NY

Grieger, I. & Ayala, S. (2010) Multicultural Competence and Diversity Training. IONA College Student Development Winter Retreat. New Rochelle, NY

Ayala, S. (2010) LaTeena Summit: Empowering Youth Latina Women to Follow their Goals. Girls, Inc. Westchester, NY

Ayala, S. and Lytle, A. (2010) All about Servant Leadership. GoNewRo Civic Engagement project. IONA College. New Rochelle, NY.

Ayala, S. and Grieger, I. (2010) Color of Fear: Let’s talk about institutional racism. Campus Security Officer retreat. IONA College. New Rochelle, NY

Grieger, I. & Ayala, S. (2009) Multicultural Organizational Development. IONA College Professional Development. New Rochelle, NY

Ayala, S. (2007) Living on a Community College Campus 101. Clinton Community College Youth Conference, Plattsburgh, NY

Ayala, S. (2006) Alcohol Summit. North-American Interfraternity Conference (NIC), Plattsburgh, NY