Awards and Accolades: Sociology Professor Co-Guest Editor for Journal

Cal State San Marcos sociology professor Marisol Clark-Ibáñez is co-guest editor of a forthcoming national journal publication focused entirely on undocumented students.

“College Access and Success for Undocumented Students” is a special edition of the Journal of College Access, which was launched at Western Michigan University in 2014. Set to be published on Sept. 22, it’s the second special issue, and the largest issue, that JCA has produced in its history.

Clark-Ibáñez edited the issue with Diana Camilo, a professor at Cal State San Bernardino whom she has worked with in the San Diego region regarding undocumented students.

The special edition includes 12 articles and features the work of nearly 30 researchers, scholars and practitioners. It focuses on research studies that increase awareness and deepen understanding about sustainable frameworks that support the success of undocumented students.

Clark-Ibáñez described the process of identifying and editing the manuscripts, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a “labor of love.”

“It's thrilling to see an entire journal issue dedicated to this topic because our students need this support and they need institutional agents (counselors, teachers, professors, teachers, admissions staff) to see them and work with them,” said Clark-Ibáñez, who’s also the chair of the sociology department at CSUSM. “Also, it was very important that we acknowledge research about undocumented parents and family members, and we have an article included by Stephanie Cuevas, who just published a book about this topic as well. I also am very proud that this journal is open access because they maintained rigorous review standards but make it accessible to all.” 

The Journal of College Access examines the current trends, research, practices and development of all types of programs, policies and activities related to the access of and success in postsecondary education. Since the first issue in January 2015, nearly 18,000 downloads of articles have been made in 148 countries.

“This special issue is our most robust research effort to date,” said Christopher W. Tremblay, co-editor and co-founder of JCA. “Camilo and Clark-Ibáñez are bringing to us cutting-edge research and raising the voices of undocumented students throughout the U.S. We need to take note of what this new and original research tells us and how it informs our policies and practices going forward.”

Mothé new director of CSU Student Success Network

Biology professor Bianca Mothé has been named the director of the CSU Student Success Network. A CSUSM faculty member since 2003, Mothé has also served as associate dean for undergraduate studies from 2016-18 and faculty director for service learning from 2013-16.

The CSU Student Success Network is an independent network that was developed by CSU faculty, staff and administrators and “creates spaces and provides resources for people in all levels of the CSU system in support of increasing graduation rates, equity-based inquiry and action, and closing critical opportunity and outcomes gaps.”

Rankings

• CSUSM is tied for ninth out of 122 schools on U.S. News and World Report’s list of “Top Performers on Social Mobility,” tied for 19^th in “Best Undergraduate Teaching Programs” and tied for 41^st among 126 schools on its list of “Best Regional Universities West.”
• The university is ranked 182^nd overall in Forbes magazine’s “America’s Top Colleges,” 46^th in the West and 86^th among public universities. There are 600 colleges and universities included in the rankings.
• CSUSM is 27^th out of 215 schools on Washington Monthly’s “2021 Best Bang for the Buck Rankings: West” list and 36^th out of 616 schools in its “2021 Master’s University Rankings.”

Media Contact

Eric Breier, Public Affairs Specialist

ebreier@csusm.edu | Office: 760-750-7314