Featured publications and projects examining intersectionality, cultural centers, and the experiences of minoritized communities in higher education spaces.
Heart Work explores the histories, challenges, and evolving practices of cultural and identity centers across higher education, including spaces supporting Latinx/e, Asian and Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Indigenous, Black, Disabled, LGBTQ+, and undocumented student communities. In the context of shifting university politics and societal change, the book offers strategies for practitioners to sustain and advance this work.
Published by Emerald Publishing, the handbook helps faculty, staff, and practitioners better understand intersectionality, oppression, and the lived experiences shaping cultural and identity centers today.
Pulido et al. (2025) examine how queer and trans Latinx/a/o scholar-practitioners navigate isolation and oppression in higher education by creating intentional community. Using queer pláticas, the study highlights how collective spaces foster belonging, reciprocity, and shared growth, offering implications for research and practice that center QTL experiences in academia.
This updated practical guide helps readers create a personalized strategy for shaping their careers in higher education, student affairs, and related fields.
Built around five key components—lifelong learning, job search and experience-building, networking, self-reflection and well-being, and professional development planning—the second edition adds new content and 20 real career stories from diverse professionals. It serves as a valuable resource for prospective, early-career, and seasoned practitioners navigating career growth and pivots.
“Juntos con Bad Bunny: We Are Pan-Americanism” is an opinion piece that reflects on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance as a cultural moment highlighting Pan-American identity, unity, and resistance across the Americas. The authors explore how shared histories of colonization, migration, and oppression shape Latinx experiences, arguing that embracing a broader continental identity can foster solidarity and drive social change in higher education and beyond.
Additional Work:
· Pulido, G., Orozco, R. C., Gonzalez, S. A., González, Á. d. J., Duran, A., Sérráno, B. C., Cataño, Y., Ortiz, G. C., & SantosMendoza, G. (2024). The story of the queer and trans Latinx/a/o higher education collective: Revealing the power of the group using queer pláticas. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000579
· Torres-Baez, D., Romero Felix, A., & Santos Mendoza, G. (2021). Surviving the Continued Assault of Cultural Centers: Building Capacity During Crisis. In C. Reneau, & M. Villarreal (Ed.), Handbook of Research on Leading Higher Education Transformation with Social Justice, Equity, and Inclusion (pp. 108-125). IGI Global. http://doi:10.4018/978-1-7998-7152-1.ch008
· Santos Mendoza, G. “Coping with Mental Health Concerns amid COVID-19.” Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 12 Jul. 2021, diverseeducation.com/article/15109643/.
·Montelongo, R., Santa-Ramirez, S., Cruze-Silva, K., & Santos Mendoza, G. (2020). Latinx Network Writers Group: Demystifying the writing process for scholar-practitioners [Journal]. Developments-ACPA College Student Educators International. https://developments.myacpa.org/latinx-network-writers-group-demystifying-the-writing-process-for-scholar-practitioners/.
Santos Mendoza, G. “Queer Latinx ... Yep We're Here.” Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, 6 Mar. 2019, diverseeducation.com/article/137761/.
· Silva K.C, Cruze R., & Santos Mendoza G. (2019). Testimonios of Entry-Level Latina/o/x Student Affairs Professionals. In Nichols M.R., Burke M.G., & Hill, L. No Ways Tired: The Journey for Professionals of Color in Student Affairs. Information Age Publishing.
Selected Presentations
Santos Mendoza G. & Mir Merced I., & Silva, K. (2026). Con Cultura y Communidad: Latine Greek Life as a Catalyst for Belonging at HSIs. American College Personnel Association (ACPA) National Convention, Baltimore, MD.
Santos Mendoza G., Bharadwaj P., & Sosa Garcia, M. (2026). The BRAT Experiences: Navigating College Student Peer-to-Peer Programs. New York University Student Affairs Conference, New York, NY.
Santos Mendoza G. & Marroquin J. (2025). La Academia – Latinx Student Affairs Institute. American College Personnel Association (ACPA) National Convention, Long Beach, CA.
Santos Mendoza, G, Torres-Baez, D. & Romero Felix, A., (2022, Nov 10). Cultural/Identity Centers in Higher Education as Mechanisms that have Humanized Higher Education. Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV.
Sobers C., Santos Mendoza, G., (2021, Aug 18). Teaching Assistants and the Medium (300+) General Chemistry Lab. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) | Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition (CCCE) Conference and Exhibition, Virtual.
Sobers C., Santos Mendoza, G., (2021, June 30). Leveraging TA Training to Establish an Inclusive Learning Environment in a Lab. American Society for Microbiology for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE), Virtual.
Santos Mendoza G., (2017). Out of the closet: Navigating the “Invisible” Latin@/x LGBTQ+ Community. American College Personnel Association (ACPA) National Convention, Columbus, OH.
Montelongo R., Cruze R., Silva K.C., Santos Mendoza G., Fajardo R., & Plaza R. (2017). The testimonials of Latina/o/x Student affairs professionals: Hear to stay. American College Personnel Association (ACPA) National Convention, Columbus, OH.