Research Interests

My research focuses on the ways in which racial, ethnic, and immigrant identities shape the experiences of Afro-Caribbean students in U.S. higher education.

I am particularly interested in understanding how antiblackness—a specific form of racism targeting Black people—affects the academic and social outcomes of Afro-Caribbean students. This study delves into the unique intersection of race, identity, immigrant status, gender, and class, and how these factors influence how Afro-Caribbean students navigate and experience educational institutions in the U.S.

I am committed to exploring the challenges Afro-Caribbean students face within higher education, specifically focusing on how they experience and respond to racialized processes and institutional practices.

By examining the lived experiences of these students, I aim to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of identity formation, resilience, and social dynamics in educational settings. My research seeks to amplify the voices of underrepresented, marginalized students, particularly Afro-Caribbean immigrants, and critically examine how educational institutions can better support their academic success and social well-being.

Current Research Focus

The Realities of Afro-Caribbean Students in U.S. Higher Education

In recent years, the experiences of Afro-Caribbean students have garnered increasing attention due to their unique positioning within the broader landscape of Black students in the U.S. Higher education, as a site of both racial and cultural negotiation, provides a unique lens to explore how Afro-Caribbean students respond to, resist, and navigate antiblackness and other forms of racial discrimination. These students, who are often caught between multiple cultural identities, face distinct challenges in negotiating their ethnic identities while navigating the racialized experiences of U.S. colleges and universities.

Afro-Caribbean students are often forced to reconcile their local and global identities, combining cultural and social frames of reference shaped by both their countries of origin and the realities of being Black in America. My research aims to explore how these students, who are part of the growing Afro-Caribbean diaspora, understand and manage their identities within educational institutions that may view them through monolithic and stereotypical lenses. This study highlights the role of institutional policies, interpersonal dynamics, and resilience strategies in shaping their experiences and outcomes in higher education.

By critically interrogating how antiblackness manifests in these spaces and examining the strategies Afro-Caribbean students use to navigate and resist these forces, I seek to provide deeper insight into how educational institutions can foster environments that better support the diverse identities of students in the African diaspora. Learn more.

Completed Projects