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).

Public Scholarship and Media Appearances
Invited Guest on Que Pasa HSI? Hosted by Dr. Gina Ann Garcia https://www.ginaanngarcia.com/podcast-201

Invitation to appear on The View from Venus a podcast related to the University of Venus blog at Inside Higher Ed: https://podcasts.apple.com/pt/podcast/7-4-racial-conflict-and-color-evasion-with-blanca-vega/id1487375227?i=1000607765780

Invited Guest on Encuentros Politicos hosted by Dr. Edwin Mayorga: “Higher education, futuros under the Biden/Harris Administration”: (March 26, 2021) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQFgrRJKZKU

Invited Columnist: A look forward: How the 1776 report protects Trump and other racists. January 2021. Latino Rebels. https://www.latinorebels.com/2021/01/29/1776report/

Invited Columnist: Call me Doctora. December 2020. Latino Rebels. https://www.latinorebels.com/2020/12/18/callmedoctora/

Invited Guest on Encuentros Politicos hosted by Dr. Edwin Mayorga: “Radio: Racial Complexities of College Admissions, a convo w/ Drs. OiYan Poon and Blanca Vega” (April 14, 2019)

Quoted in Slate: “How Exactly Will SAT Test Takers’ “Adversity Score” Be Calculated?” (May 21, 2019)

Quoted in The New York Times: “Colorblind Notions Aside, Colleges Grapple with Racial Tension” (February 24, 2014)

Parenting and the Pandemic - Wallet Hub: https://wallethub.com/blog/school-reopening-survey/78092/#expert=blanca-e-vega