Congratulations to Nurys LeBron who on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, successfully defended her dissertation proposal.
The title of Nurys' dissertation is, "MUJER MARAVILLA: CRITICAL NARRATIVE INQUIRY OF LATINA WORKING MOTHERS PURSUING A DOCTORAL DEGREE."
Overview of Problem: Educational attainment among Latinas mothers remains disproportionately low. In 2017, only 18.9% held a bachelor’s or advanced degree, compared to 51.3% of white and 67.9% of Asian mothers. Latinas represent just 1% of all doctorate recipients. These disparities reflect enduring structural inequities that hinder access and persistence in higher education. Doctoral student mothers, particularly those working full-time, face compounded barriers and are more likely to drop out of their programs than men or childless peers.
Research Purpose: The purpose of this critical narrative inquiry is to chronicle the experiences of Latina doctoral students who are mothers and are working full-time. Guided by the Latina feminist theory, this research provides a narrative analysis of how systemic inequities and dominant cultural norms shape participants’ doctoral journey, at the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity, motherhood and labor.
Research Design: Critical narrative inquiry.
Sample: Eight birth mothers (children ages 1-15) of origin or ancestry from Spanish-speaking countries in the Caribbean and Latin America, who work full-time and are pursuing a doctoral degree in education, health, or social service/public administration fields.
Data Collection: Two 60-minute in-depth, semi-structured interviews to be conducted via Zoom.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR:
Dr. Susan Iverson
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Dr. Julie Alexander
Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz
Take Your Career to the Next Level
Elevate your leadership skills, deepen your understanding of critical and contemporary education issues, and learn to help solve the current challenges in P-20 education.
Learn to Inspire Change
The Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership from Manhattanville, offered in partnership with Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES, utilizes a forward-thinking approach to educational leadership that is ideal for practicing and aspiring leaders in any educational context. It is designed to support the goals of educational professionals who seek to develop their leadership skills for career advancement or current job enhancement.
