Date of Defense

6-30-2026

Date of Graduation

6-2026

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Adriana Cardoso Reyes

Second Advisor

Yuri Estrada

Third Advisor

Eva Hughes

Abstract

For the purpose of this study, Latino/a refers to individuals who are from Latin America or of Latin American descent. The term Latino/a is used because it captures individuals from a variety of Latino American cultural backgrounds and is not limited to a single national origin or ethnic subgroup (Pratt Institute Libraries, n.d).

Student leadership development is often fostered with involvement in student organizations, leadership programs, mentorship opportunities, and other institutional resources provided through higher education (Lebrón et al., 2017). However, for many students’ Latino/a leadership-related skills may begin developing long before entering college through family responsibilities, cultural experiences, and community involvement (Moll et al., 1992; Yosso, 2005). This research proposal explores how Latino student leaders perceive the influence of precollege experiences and institutional resources on their leadership development.

Drawing upon the frameworks of Community Cultural Wealth (Yosso, 2005), Funds of Knowledge (Moll et al., 1992), and Pedagogies of the Home (Delgado Bernal, 1998/2008), this proposal examines how responsibilities such as caregiving, translating for family members, advocacy, and navigating systems may contribute to the development of skills commonly associated with leadership, such as communication, responsibility, and problem-solving, prior to college enrollment. At the same time, the proposal acknowledges the role of higher education institutions in supporting the continued development of leadership skills through involvement in student organizations, mentorship relationships, and leadership development opportunities (Lebrón et al., 2017).

To explore these relationships, this proposal outlines a mixed-methods research design utilizing survey data and semi-structured interviews with Latino undergraduate students. Survey

questions are designed to examine patterns related to pre-college experiences, leadership identity, institutional resource utilization, and cultural identity, while interviews are intended to provide deeper insight into participants' perceptions of their leadership development. This proposed study serves as a foundation for future research, researchers who choose to implement this study may adapt the methodology, sample size, recruitment strategies, or data collection procedures based on available time, funding, participant access, and institutional resources.

Ultimately, this proposal seeks to contribute to conversations surrounding leadership development by exploring the relationship between cultural upbringing, lived experiences, and institutional support. It also encourages future researchers to expand, refine, challenge, or build upon these ideas to further understand how leadership develops among Latino students.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Open Access

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