Congratulations to Nurys LeBron who on Friday, April 3, 2026, successfully defended her dissertation.
The title of Nury’s dissertation is, "MUJER MARAVILLA: CRITICAL NARRATIVE INQUIRY OF LATINA WORKING MOTHERS WHO EARNED 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 earners who are mothers and worked full-time. Guided by the Latina Feminist Theory, this research provides a narrative analysis of how systemic inequities and dominant cultural norms shaped participants’ doctoral journey, at the intersection of gender, race/ethnicity, motherhood and labor.
Research Design: Narrative inquiry coupled with my theoretical lens – LFT which also operated at the methodological level-- was my hybrid methodology: critical narrative inquiry.
Sample: Nine Latina mothers who worked full-time and earned doctoral degrees.
Data Collection and Analysis: The data collection consisted of two 60-minute in depth, semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom. Initial data was analyzed using inductive coding, in vivo themes developed from participant’s narratives. Following, I engaged in deductively analyzing the data across transcripts, using the five guiding principles inspired by the Latina feminist approach adapted by Rodriguez (2025).
Findings: Four primary themes developed from the analysis: (a) stereotypical pressures, (b) I need a second, (c) these people were in my corner, and (d) a beacon of light. Participants described experiencing external and internal pressures of behaving like a stereotypical Latina mother and student. Participants reported experiencing stress, burnout and depression. Participants shared the people who provided support through their hardships. Participants hope to be a beacon of light for others.
Conclusions/Implications: The findings suggest that LWM experienced systemic and institutional barriers that made their journeys harder. To combat these systems of oppression LWM asked for help, they pivoted and they persisted. This study highlights the importance of studying the experiences of doctoral students from marginalized communities. Prioritizing institutional and policy reforms through an LFT lens should be at the forefront for leaders and policymakers.
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE CHAIR:
Dr. Susan Iverson
DISSERTATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Dr. Julie Alexander
Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz
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