Roberta Espinoza, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Dr. Roberta Espinoza has 15 years of professional experience in diverse higher education environments, including at a large, public Hispanic-Serving Institution (California State University, Fullerton), a small, highly selective private liberal arts college (Pitzer College), and a medium-sized, faith-based institution (Loyola Marymount University). She received her B.A. from Pomona College and her M.A. and Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.Dr. Espinoza has a demonstrated history of leadership in higher education access, international education, global learning, curriculum development, and DEI efforts. Her scholarly expertise on higher education access is informed by her own personal experience as a first-generation Latinx student. She has written several books, peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, and articles in magazines for educational practitioners on the role of social and cultural capital in the educational advancement and success of first-generation students of color in higher education. Her first book titled “Pivotal Moments: How Educators Can Put All Students on the Path to College,” published by Harvard Education Press examines the theory and practice of getting low-income and minority students to college. Her second book titled “Working Class Minority Students’ Routes to Higher Education,” published by Routledge examines how first-generation and minority students acquire the educational social and cultural capital needed to forge an intentional path to higher education. She has also published articles on Latino undocumented students and women of color in doctoral education. Espinoza’s scholarly work has received funding from the Haynes Foundation and the National Science Foundation.