Cynthia Garcia

M.A. Student

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cgarcia924@unm.edu

Bio

She/Her

Cynthia Garcia is an instructional faculty and counselor at Mt. San Jacinto community college in Southern California. She has been a counselor for over 10 years. Born and raised in San Diego, California, she is a first-generation Chicana, coming from a single parent household and immigrant parents. Earning her Undergraduate degree in Communication from Cal State University San Marcos and both graduate degrees in organizational leadership and Counseling from National University. She is slated to complete her MA in Chicana and Chicano studies at UNM Spring 23 and plans to apply to a doctoral program in Chicana and Chicano studies in the Fall. Cynthia currently serves as one of the Puente counselors, co-coordinators and instructors for her college’s Puente Project, a transfer program for Chicana/o & Latina/o students. She also teaches the Puente Counseling success courses that combines college success strategies with Chicana/o & Latina/o identity and cultural development. For many years Cynthia, as a proud Chicana has advocated for her community, especially in the educational sector by helping students advocate for themselves, their identity, and their history. Through intentional collaboration and support, promoting growth by directly challenging systemic barriers that have impeded our communities she has ensured her students understand the importance of our history, cultural identity and that all that we aspire to is founded on the sacrifice of our ancestors. She hopes to continue to support, inspire and guide her community to educate the next generation. C/S – Que Viva La Raza

 

Research Interests

Cynthia’s current research focuses on Chicana and Chicano coursework and their growth, development and survival within our Chicana and Chicano studies programs at the higher education level. Through coding and analyzation of course outlines from different colleges and universities she hopes to provide the field of Chicana and Chicano studies a way to ensure we continue center our Chicana and Chicano studies coursework to El Plan de Santa Barbara while also honoring the present.

Research Topics

Chicana Identity | Chicana and Chicano Studies | Raza Studies