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University of Denver

The Experiences of Undocumented College Students Through Critical Evocative Portraiture

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>This qualitative study explored the college experiences of five undocumented students. Using data from three in-depth interviews, the study sought to offer insights to educational leaders on the in- and out-of-class validating experiences that influenced a group of undocumented students to persist in their pursuit of a bachelor’s degree. Rendón’s (1994) theory of student validation provided the framework for the study. The qualitative method of critical evocative portraiture (Lyman, Lazaridou, & Strachan, 2013) was used to collect, analyze and present the data. Congruent with the methodology, the researcher constructed a critical evocative portrait of each of the participants. The portraits provide a full picture of the participants, and honor the complexity and powerful experiences of undocumented students. The findings revealed that academic and interpersonal validation overpowered adverse circumstances, and that awareness of legal status and the impact on the future developed a drive and passion for social change.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Ph.D.
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation
Year dc:date.available
2015

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • García, Erica
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Susan Korach, Ed.D.
  • Ryan E. Gildersleeve
  • Kristina Hesbol
  • Lisa Martinez

Subjects

dc:subject × 8

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • <p>Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.</p>
Language dc:language
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/227
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:digitalcommons.du.edu:etd-1226

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of Denver
Base URL
digitalcommons.du.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

García, Erica. The Experiences of Undocumented College Students Through Critical Evocative Portraiture. Dissertation thesis, 2015. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/227