Latina/o/x Research Issues SIG Familia,

It is with great honor and humility that I write to you as your incoming Chair of the Latina/o/x Research Issues SIG for 2026–2027. Whether you are joining us for the first time or returning as a longtime member of this community, bienvenidos a nuestra casa (welcome to our home).

I come to this role as a scholar-practitioner grounded in the pedagogy of home. My leadership, like my research and teaching, is rooted in the belief that our lived experiences, our familias, and our communities are sources of knowledge and strength. This philosophy will shape how I approach our work together this year: with intentionality, with care, and with a commitment to making space for all of us to show up as our whole selves, academically and personally.

The national context for Latiné communities continues to demand our voice, our vigilance, and our solidarity. As the Latiné population in educational settings — from pre-school to graduate school — continues to grow across this country and beyond, our responsibility as a SIG only deepens. We are called to conduct rigorous research, policy, and practice that uplifts our community, and to lead with courage at a national level, speaking up and speaking out against injustice.

As we look ahead to the AERA 2027 Annual Meeting, I hope to build on the strong foundation laid by those who came before me while inviting new energy, new traditions, and new voices into our SIG. I want us to grow our membership, deepen our programmatic offerings, and strengthen our presence within AERA — and I want that growth to be in community. There is room for everyone here: whether you want to take on an elected role as a secretary, program chair, chair-elect or appointed role, mentor a student member, review submissions, or simply show up and connect, I would love your help imagining what that looks like together. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly with your ideas.

And for those of you reading this who may have simply stumbled across our page or who are curious about what this SIG is all about, I SEE YOU TOO. I invite you in. You don’t need an official title or years of involvement to belong here. Reach out, introduce yourself, ask questions. Let’s talk! Follow us on our social media and directly message us.  

Gracias for your continued commitment to this community of scholars dedicated to advancing educational opportunity and justice for Latiné students, families, and issues. I’m honored to walk alongside you this year, and I look forward to all we will build together.

En comunidad y con cariño,

Maria Luz Espino, Ph.D.

Chair, AERA Latina/o/x Research Issues SIG 2026–2027