Fellows in the fight for racial justice

Continuing its commitment to amplify underrepresented voices and to support scholars driven to effect change, the Graduate Division at UC Santa Barbara has selected three new Racial Justice Fellows: Ph.D. students India Sanders, Marlene Lopez Torres and Diego Lazcano Avila will receive funding and mentorship for teaching, research and mentorship.

"The Racial Justice Fellowship program originally grew out of a commitment to address racial injustice following the murder of George Floyd," said Leila J. Rupp, Interim Anne and Michael Towbes Graduate Dean. "Recruiting and supporting students who have a track record of research, teaching and community engagement around issues of racial justice remains critical to the Graduate Division. We are so proud of the work the fellows do and their commitment to giving back as they pursue their graduate degrees."

Since its launch in the fall of 2020, the Graduate Division has awarded the fellowship to 17 students. All awards are supported by a cross-collaboration among academic divisions and support from private donors. Fellows are nominated by their departments during their recruitment outreach to receive an $8,000 summer stipend for the first three years, in addition to a five-year, fully-funded support offer from their department.

"The Racial Justice Fellowship is central to our goal of creating a more inclusive and diverse campus," said Walter Boggan, Director of Graduate Admissions, Outreach, and Diversity. "By supporting students dedicated to racial justice, we're showcasing underrepresented voices and advancing work that leads to real social impact. This fellowship is key to attracting and empowering scholars who are passionate about creating meaningful change."

Meet the fellows

Lazcano Avila grew up in Santa Barbara experiencing "the red-lining of neighborhoods and the subsequent drop in value as well as quality of life," he said. He chose to pursue his doctorate in the Department Chicana and Chicano Studies for its historic role as the first institution nationwide to offer a PhD in the field.

"My research focuses on exploring the relationship between race and mental health outcomes in marginalized communities," she added. "Thanks to this fellowship, I will be able to provide essential mental health resources to underserved communities through mentorship, community healing events and the establishment of more supportive spaces for Black and Brown communities in Santa Barbara."

A history of impact

Looking back on the impact of his own experience, Chicana/o studies PhD student and 2021-22 fellow Ricardo Delgado Solis said the fellowship funding, in collaboration with UCSB's Undocumented Student Services, helped him establish the Immersion Program for Academic and Cultural Training (IMPACT) for undocumented students protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

In September, IMPACT's three-week travel-study program in Mexico City immersed DACA recipients in Spanish and Mexican culture, Solis said. "The program's academic focus on immigration, history, identity and language was coupled with an ethnographic component for cultural exploration. As one of the two coordinators, I had the privilege of guiding 15 DACA students, many of whom had yet to return to Mexico since childhood."

The newest cohort will get a chance to hear past fellows present their work at the upcoming Racial Justice Symposium.

"There are consequences to conducting research; it has academic, economic, and societal impact," said Carlos Nash, Director of Graduate Diversity Programs. "The Racial Justice Symposium is an opportunity for us to learn from our scholars and to support their endeavors to effect change."

For more information about the Racial Justice Fellowship, visit the Graduate Division website.

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.