Marissa C. Vasquez, Ed.D
(she, her, hers)                 
  Click here for C.V.
Dra. Vasquez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Administration, Rehabilitation, and Postsecondary Education (ARPE) at San Diego State University (SDSU) – a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Broadly, her research seeks to better understand the experiences, factors, and conditions that facilitate success among underserved college students, particularly community college and transfer students.

​Her research agenda includes three strands: (1) understanding the pre/post transitional experiences of community college transfer students; (2) using anti-deficit perspectives to examine the experiences of Latina/o/x college students; and (3) exploring the role of community colleges in fostering welcoming and inclusive campus environments for disproportionately impacted students.

Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL)

As the Associate Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), Dr. Vasquez leads multiple projects that involve institutional needs assessments for disproportionately impacted students in community colleges. 

Project M.A.L.E.S

Dr. Vasquez is a Faculty Affiliate for Project MALES, an initiative supported by the University of Texas at Austin to sustain the development and visibility of scholarship on boys and men of color.
MANA de San Diego Scholarship Committee
In addition to her contributions as a scholar, Dr. Vasquez dedicates her time to the Latina/o/x community in San Diego. She is the past co-chair of the scholarship committee for MANA de San Diego, a local non-profit organization that empowers and supports Latinas through education. Since 2005, she’s also served as a mentor for the Puente Project at Southwestern College, a program that she was once a part of as a community college student. ​

UC Berkeley Chicanx/Latinx Alumni - San Diego

As a UC Berkeley alum, Dr. Vasquez is the founder and co-chair of the UC Berkeley Chicanx/Latinx Alumni Association in San Diego, a non-profit organization that supports incoming UCB high school and community college Latina/o/x students via scholarships.

Vasquez Scholarship
for Advancing Latinx Student Success

Dr. Vasquez established the Vasquez Scholarship for Advancing Latinx Student Success at SDSU. The scholarship supports doctoral students conducting research on Latina/o/x community college students and/or Latina/o/x transfer students and/or post-baccalaureate achievement of Latina/o/x transfer students. Beyond the local Latina/o/x community, Dr. Vasquez also remains dedicated to advancing research and cultivating the Latina/o/x community at the national level.


​Dr. Vasquez's academic journey includes the following:
  • A.A. degree in Transfer Studies from Southwestern College
  • B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley
  • M.A. in Counseling with a specialization in College Counseling and Student Development from the University of San Diego
  • Ed.D. in Postsecondary Educational Leadership from San Diego State University