Stephanie Briones
VP of Finance and Governance
Council Term: 2024-2027
Stephanie Briones' experience as a student, instructor, and grant director at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) has fueled her passion for creating transformative spaces grounded in cultural awareness, equity, and social justice. From being a first-generation community college student to becoming a first-generation doctoral graduate, she attended HSIs throughout her academic journey. Stephanie is deeply grateful for her education in spaces that acknowledged and supported her identity. Her doctoral thesis, which focused on HSI presidential leadership, was inspired by her experiences as a student and reflects her belief that leadership within these institutions must evolve to meet the needs of the current Latino college community. She intends to further expand her research on community college HSIs as organizational systems to develop asset-based structures that benefit all involved in shared governance.
As an instructor, Stephanie thrives in HSI environments where she can fully embrace a student-centered approach that aligns with the needs and aspirations of the students. She also takes pride in sharing information about the unique opportunities available at HSIs with students, highlighting the benefits of being part of such significant institutions.
In her role as a Title V grant leader, Stephanie is committed to implementing transformative HSI practices. She collaborates with a dedicated team that shares a collective vision to foster and sustain an HSI intersectional identity through events, professional development, and celebrating the success of Latino STEM students. Among their notable accomplishments is the STEM Research Symposium, which showcases the work of two-year students alongside their faculty mentors.
Stephanie’s research interests extend to HSI organizational systems, leadership development, and cultural advocacy for intersectional Latino groups on campus. She is particularly focused on bridging HSI/Latino identities with LGBTQIA+ identities, promoting inclusivity and equity across these diverse communities.