AAHHE Conference at SDSU celebrates community and place
The sounds of a live mariachi band filled Montezuma Hall, where brightly-colored decorations adorned the tables. Attendees could stroll through research poster sessions with a paleta frozen treat in hand. And a bus excursion and tour brought San Diego’s rich Chicano heritage to life.
Far from a traditional academic gathering, the 21st annual American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) Conference, held at San Diego State University from March 27–29, reflected a deliberate effort to integrate place based learning, community engagement and scholarly depth.
“I wanted the conference environment to feel welcoming and reflective of our community, with music playing and bright colors,” said AAHHE chair and SDSU Associate Professor Marissa Vasquez, who also chairs the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation and Postsecondary Education.
“I’m proud that we were able to host nationally recognized Latino scholars to present their research.”
Vasquez added that many attendees remarked on the beauty of the SDSU campus and the visibility of its murals and public art.
“The physical space matters,” she said. “It was meaningful for participants to see, in a very tangible way, what it means for SDSU to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution.”
AAHHE is a national organization comprised largely of social science researchers whose work addresses the experiences, challenges and contributions of Latinx communities in higher education. A cornerstone of professional development, the AAHHE Faculty Fellows Program was led by Melissa A. Navarro Martell, associate professor in SDSU’s Department of Dual Language Education.
The conference attracted nearly 300 faculty and graduate scholars to San Diego from as far away as Texas and Rhode Island — even Puerto Rico.
SDSU President Adela de la Torre provided welcome remarks to kick off the conference, sharing her connection with AAHHE dating back to her time as a graduate student, and speaking to the importance of hosting the organization as a demonstration of SDSU’s commitment to HSI servingness.
The opening keynote was delivered by Laura Rendón, a nationally recognized education theorist and expert on student success and transformative learning. One of the most impactful components of the conference occurred off campus, when attendees were bused down to Chicano Park for a tour of the famous murals led by Roberto D. Hernández, associate professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies.
“It was an extended educational experience and offered an opportunity to connect scholarship with the surrounding community,” Vasquez said.
As Vasquez looks back on the success of the event, community is a word very much on her mind. She repeatedly returned to the theme of community and collaboration, emphasizing that the conference was made possible through extensive campus support from the Office of the President, the Office of HSI Affairs, Associated Students, International Affairs, the College of Education, the Latinx Resource Center and the Monarch Unity Resource Center.
Additional support came from the San Diego Foundation, which funded the Chicano Park visit, and the San Diego College of Continuing Education, which hosted the AAHHE board meeting and sponsor appreciation reception.
And, of course, there was the unsung cast of student, faculty and staff organizers and volunteers who made everything work behind the scenes.
“This conference was possible because of strong partnerships and long-standing relationships across campus,” Vasquez said. “It truly was a collective effort.”
Next year’s AAHHE conference will take place at California State University, Sacramento, hosted by President J. Luke Wood — a former SDSU College of Education professor and Vasquez’s longtime research collaborator. Consider the gauntlet thrown down.
“I know he likes a little competition,” Vasquez said, smiling. “I have high expectations that they will continue this level of engagement, vibrancy and fun in 2027.”
