“I wonder if we are set up to fail”: Autoethnographic insights from a public university

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Published: Jun 14, 2024

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Natalie Ingraham
Farmingdale State College (SUNY), Farmingdale, NY
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3529-7353
Mariana Guzzardo
California State University, East Bay
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3716-7336
Ryan Gamba
California State University, East Bay
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7385-2509
Matthew D. Moore
University of Nevada, Reno
Alina Engelman
California State University, East Bay
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2097-7121
Nidhi Khosla
California State University, East Bay
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1702-0740
Annis Lee Adams
California State University, East Bay
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0428-7793
Jeffra D. Bussmann
California State University, East Bay
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4626-3239
Shubha Kashinath
California State University, East Bay
Ali Jones-Bey
Negin R. Toosi
California State University, East Bay
Sarah Taylor
California State University, East Bay
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3234-5006

Abstract

In this collective autoethnography, we (14 faculty and staff) explore our reflections about students’ accounts of their challenging experiences and our own experiences interacting with students at a racially diverse, minority-serving university campus in the western United States. We found three key themes: (1) Balancing Expectations and Understanding, (2) It’s More Than a Job, and (3) Feeling Overwhelmed Through Our Commitment. We argue that shifting campus climates, especially considering COVID-19 and resurgent civil rights movements, require that administrators choose a model of well-being over neo-liberal business models for higher education, in order to better support students, staff, and faculty for academic, professional, and personal success. Faculty’s reflections within this collective autoethnography have several implications for teaching, administrative policy, and practice within colleges and universities. 


            Keywords: autoethnography, qualitative research, higher education, faculty, students

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 9 No. 1 (2024): Research and Practice
Section
Articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Natalie Ingraham, Farmingdale State College (SUNY), Farmingdale, NY

Natalie Ingraham, PhD, MPH, Sociology & Anthropology, Farmingdale State College (SUNY), Farmingdale, NY (ORCID-ID0000-0003-3529-7353). Natalie Ingraham is an assistant professor of Sociology at Farmingdale State College. Her research work sits at intersections of embodiment, body size, gender, health, and sexualities. Email: Natalie.ingraham@farmingdale.edu 

Mariana Guzzardo, California State University, East Bay

Mariana T. Guzzardo, Ph.D., Human Development and Women’s Studies, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA. (0000-0002-3716-7336). Mariana T. Guzzardo, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Women’s Studies at California State University, East Bay. Her research focuses on psychosocial aging issues for older Latinx adults, and disaster or emergency experiences for older adults with functional and access needs.

Ryan Gamba, California State University, East Bay

Ryan Gamba, PhD, MPH, Public Health, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA. (ORCID 0000-0002-7385-2509). Ryan Gamba is an Associate Professor of Public Health at California State University, East Bay. His research agenda focuses on food insecurity among college students and potential interventions to improve food security status.

Matthew D. Moore, University of Nevada, Reno

Matthew D. Moore, JD, MPH, Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA.  Matthew Moore is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno.  His work focuses on the impact of law and policy on health disparities, as well as on the pedagogical development of empathy.

Alina Engelman, California State University, East Bay

Alina Engelman, DrPH, MPH, Public Health, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA Alina Engelman is an Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health, at California State University, East Bay. Her research focuses on deaf and disability-related health disparities.

Nidhi Khosla, California State University, East Bay

Nidhi Khosla, Ph.D, MPH, PGDRM, Public Health, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA. Nidhi Khosla is an Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health, at California State University, East Bay. Her research interests include access to healthcare for vulnerable populations (e.g., South Asians living in the US) and academic success among vulnerable university students.

Annis Lee Adams, California State University, East Bay

Annis Lee Adams, MLIS, MA, University Libraries, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA

Jeffra D. Bussmann, California State University, East Bay

Jeffra D. Bussmann, MLIS, University Libraries, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA (ORCID 0000-0003-4626-3239). Jeffra Bussmann is a librarian and part of the library faculty at Cal State University, East Bay. Her research focuses on a variety of areas within science librarianship as well as its intersection with social justice. 

Shubha Kashinath, California State University, East Bay

Shubha Kashinath, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Speech Language and Hearing Sciences, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA is an associate professor and Chair of Speech Language and Hearing Sciences at California State University, East Bay. Her research focuses on family centered care and working with individuals with autism across the lifespan. 

Ali Jones-Bey

Ali Jones-Bey, MA, English, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA

Negin R. Toosi, California State University, East Bay

Negin R. Toosi, Ph.D., Psychology, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA Dr. Toosi is an experimental social psychologist. Her research deals primarily with social identities such as race, gender, and religion. She is currently an assistant professor of psychology at California State University, East Bay.

Sarah Taylor, California State University, East Bay

Sarah Taylor, MSW, Ph.D., Social Work, CSU East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA (ORCID ID 0000-0003-3234-5006). Dr. Taylor is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Social Work. She focuses on equity in education, health, and other human services systems with an emphasis on collaborative, participatory approaches.