Dissertation Proposal Announcement Ph.D. in Higher Education Program: Kristine Joy Bacani “Ang Mga Kuwento Nila (“Their Stories”): Exploring Community Cultural Wealth Among Filipino American College Students Through Critical Narrative Inquiry”

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

The Filipino American population has grown significantly but remains one of the least understood and understudied subgroups within the broader Asian American community, particularly in higher education (Museus & Maramba, 2011; Nadal et al., 2010; Paik et al., 2016). Despite being the third-largest Asian American subgroup and an increasingly visible presence on college campuses, Filipino American students face distinct challenges, including racial discrimination, socioeconomic barriers, and the erasure of their unique lived experiences within generalized Asian American narratives (Surla & Poon, 2015). Using Yosso’s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth (CCW) framework, this study will adopt a critical narrative inquiry approach to center the kuwentos (stories) of Filipino American students. Drawing on kuwentuhan, a cultural practice of conversational storytelling rooted in the Filipino tradition, this qualitative research will emphasize the co-creation of meaning between researcher and participants while situating their stories within broader sociopolitical and cultural contexts. By blending kuwentuhan with critical narrative inquiry, the study aims to disrupt dominant research paradigms and honor Filipino American ways of knowing and storytelling. The proposed research aims to challenge the often homogenized portrayal of Asian American narratives by offering a more nuanced understanding of Filipino American students’ unique experiences. By focusing on their kuwentos (stories) and the strengths they bring to higher education, this study seeks to provide practical insights for improving policies, support programs, and campus practices to better address their needs. By centering the voices of Filipino American students, this research aims to highlight their resilience and cultural wealth while contributing to a richer and more inclusive understanding of Asian American diversity in higher education.

To attend this event virtually and for more information, please contact academic.services@gse.rutgers.edu.