Leigh-Anna G. Hidalgo, PhD

My teaching philosophy, pedagogical practice, and commitments to the discipline are directly informed by my personal experiences as a Central American first-generation college student. These experiences feed my resolve to foster learning environments where underrepresented and diverse students receive the education and guidance they need to assure them that their histories, experiences, and voices matter.
 
As someone who was sustained through the labor of feminist women of color, I am committed to mentoring my students to ensure their success. My studies of Latinx epistemologies and ontologies remain visible in my pedagogical philosophy and strategies for creating knowledge in the service of aggrieved communities. My mission as an educator is fourfold: (1) embracing storytelling, (2) innovating digital humanities, (2) decolonizing research and teaching, (4) and helping students empower themselves to create social change.
 
In all of these endeavors, I am inspired by the words of Dolores Huerta: “Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.”