The McNeill Academic Program had the great honor of hosting as a guest speaker for the Power Hour event on March 8, 2017. Dr. Rend贸n is Professor Emeritus and Co-Director for the Center for Research and Policy in Education at the University of Texas - San Antonio. Her research interest is in retention and access for low-income, first-generation college students. She also focuses her research on 鈥渢ransforming teaching and learning鈥� with a social justice lens.
She began the presentation by congratulating everyone in attendance for being at the University of Colorado, and for being on their journey to their Baccalaureate. She said that speaking to students in college gives her hope for our nation and feels that it is in good hands for the future. Dr. Rend贸n shared a picture of her childhood home in Laredo, Texas, near the US/Mexico border. As a child, she lived in poverty, with no hopes of ever attending college. Now as a college professor, she reflects back on her journey, and shares her story as often as she can with students that have similar backgrounds as she did as a young girl.
Her presentation stressed three important messages for McNeill students: (a) It is important to get validation, encouragement and support from your close family and friends, (b) it is vital to recognize your assets, strengths, and cultural wealth, (c) and the best learning is done when students utilize high impact practices, and experience deep learning experiences.
Dr. Rend贸n invited three students from the audience to share their personal stories about a particular individual in their life that made them a better professional and a better person. These students shared heart-warming anecdotes about the impact that certain people had made in their life. Two of the students named Sophie Low, the Director of the McNeill Academic Program, as highly influential to their academic experience. This speaks to Sophie鈥檚 years of dedication to McNeill Scholars, in helping them transform their college experience while at 麻豆免费版下载Boulder. Another student named Cat Altman, a McNeill Writing Program Coordinator, as a person who gave her advice that she felt had reshaped her experience while in college.
Dr. Rend贸n emphasized the importance of validation as a way to acquire confidence in their academics and also to foster student interpersonal development. She cited studies that showed that being a member of a study group was extremely important in academic success. Helping others, being involved in a student organization and seeking faculty or counselors advice were other ways that she felt would help a student's overall college experience.
For the last exercise during the interactive presentation, Dr. Rend贸n encouraged table groups to discuss what they felt was the most important asset or strength that is required to succeed in college. She then asked them to write it down on large paper that was supplied, and each group shared a little about why they chose the word. Some of the strengths and assets that were presented were: communication, self-reflection, open-mindedness, perseverance, organization and time management skills. 听
Dr. Rend贸n鈥檚 presentation included several video clips of student interviews from her research, which resonated with many in the audience: 鈥淚t was inspirational to know that these students have the same issues as me. 听Watching the videos, it was like the speaker knew me. 听He was speaking from my perspective,鈥� 听Aaron Barraza, McNeill Scholar, describing his reaction to the student interview videos that were presented. Dr. Rend贸n also showed a video clip describing Dr. Alberto Pulido鈥檚 , a compelling display of 鈥渟acred boxes鈥� created artistically by graduate students that reflect each person鈥檚 culture, background, and experiences.
She closed out the afternoon by encouraging the students in attendance to continue developing a strong work ethic as a way to help propel them through college. She also encouraged them to give back to society, because 鈥渁 degree is not something that you hang on a wall, it is about giving back to society as a form of spiritual nobility.鈥�
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