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Andrew Martinez

Andrew Martinez is a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education and research associate at the Penn Center for Minority Serving Institutions.

Theft, Shame and Guilt in Order to Get By

Over the past few years there has been increasing exposure to the harsh reality of what it is like to be in college while facing financial hardship.

February 26, 2019

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Learning How to Teach is Important – Even if You Don’t Want to Be Faculty

While not every student intends to teach after completing a terminal degree in education, I would argue that it would be to all students’ benefit to learn how to help others learn effectively. Sure, there are structures in place for graduate students to have experiences being a TA for a course, teaching a course on their own and maybe even earning a teaching certificate; but how are these experiences evaluated?

January 23, 2019

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‘The Best Dissertation is a Finished Dissertation’ Reconsidered

Throughout my time as doctoral student, there is one piece of advice that I keep hearing that is both reassuring and troubling to me — “the best dissertation is a finished dissertation.” At face value, I interpret that as advice to not overthink every decision I make about my dissertation, to let go of trying to achieve perfection, and to do my best to get it done. While I agree with all of this, I can’t help but wonder “what does that say about the way we approach our work?”

December 16, 2018

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The Mentorship That Keeps Giving

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I wanted to reflect on what I am most grateful for as a current doctoral student. I can go on and on about how fortunate I am to have an adviser like the one I have. Too often, I hear horror stories about advisers who are unsupportive, unreasonable, and simply unwilling to put their own research agendas aside for a moment to help their students find their own voice

December 1, 2018

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Why Representation Matters in the Professoriate

Research has shown that having role-models and mentors who share racial/ethnic identities can contribute to an individual’s self-concept of pursuing similar careers. Too often, people from underrepresented racial or ethnic communities hear about the struggles their community faces, rather than their increasing growth and success in this country.

November 19, 2018

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Responding to Misconceptions of Being a Graduate Student

Sometimes I get frustrated with myself because I am unable to explain my experiences in higher education to my family and peers. As a first-generation college student, explaining my day-to-day life as a student is challenging. While my family was really supportive and proud that I wanted to pursue a master’s degree, they didn’t really understand the field of higher education or what I can do with that degree.

November 5, 2018

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Navigating Bias Incidents on Campus as an Administrator

During my tenure as an assistant dean of students, I was involved in a committee charged with responding to reported bias incidents on campus. When a member of the campus community experienced, witnessed or were aware of something that they believed to be bias, they could use an online form to report the incident anonymously. Once a week, this committee I was a part of would read over all the cases and decide how they should be handled.

October 18, 2018

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Recognizing the Importance of Access and Social Capital

Have you ever heard, “it’s not about what you know… it’s about who you know?” Unfortunately, this idea that your network can have a significant impact on the opportunities you have access to, is true.

October 8, 2018

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Improving Financial Literacy Among Students of Color, Especially Millennials

Time and time again, I overhear people speaking about how they wish they would have learned the importance of personal finance in high school. Whether it is information about how to file taxes, understanding credit, or guidance on getting loans to purchase a vehicle, home, or to attend school, it has become clear to me that people acknowledge having to make these types of financial decisions with little to no background knowledge about it beforehand.

September 21, 2018

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Easing The Transition: 3 Pieces of Advice for Supporting First-Generation or Underrepresented Students on Your Campus

Thousands of students are entering college or graduate school for the first time and those who are the first in their family to do so may not know what to expect. While the next couple of years will undoubtedly be challenging for them, here are some ways you (as a peer, as an administrator, or as a professor) can help in cultivating a smooth, positive transition.

September 11, 2018

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