Finding “little lights”: Faculty Interactions and Mentorship That Honor and Incorporate Familismo

Higher education institutions in the U.S. have been experiencing an increase in Latinx student enrollment (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, 2023 Fact sheet: Hispanic higher education and Hispanic-serving institutions. https://www.hacu.net/images/hacu/Newsrel/2023/2023_HSI_FactSheet.pdf , 2023; McFarland et al., The condition of education 2018 (NCES 2018-144). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, 2018). Despite this trend, Latinx college students graduate at lower rates compared to their peers from other racial and ethnic backgrounds (Excelencia in Education, Latinos in higher education: Compilation of fast facts. https://www.edexcelencia.org/research/publications/latinos-higher-education-compilation-fast-facts , 2019). One of the retention strategies for Latinx students is to connect them to mentorship provided by a trusted individual who can help them navigate higher education (Excelencia in Education, What works for Latino students in higher education compendium. https://www.edexcelencia.org/research/2020-What-Works-for-Latino-Students-In-Higher-Education , 2020). This chapter explores how faculty interactions and mentorship provided to Latinx students can honor and incorporate the value of familismo. This exploration builds off the findings of a qualitative study (Garzon, “If you are trying to help students, you should probably ask them how you can help”: Testimonios of Latina/o/ Hispanic college students who persisted to graduation (Publication No. 30248314) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Rhode Island]. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, 2023) that explored the experiences of Latinx students who persisted to graduation at a four-year Hispanic-Serving Institution. The chapter explains the need to connect Latinx students with supportive faculty that can serve as “institutional agents” (Garcia & Ramirez, Urban Education, 53(3), 356, 2018) who help students navigate social and institutional aspects of college. As well as the need for faculty to provide culturally sensitive support to Latinx students and intentionally build familial relationships with students who align with the value of familismo.