Laura I. Rendón is Professor and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Iowa State University, College of Human Sciences. Dr. Rendón was previously the Veffie Milstead Jones Endowed Chair in the College of Education at California State University-Long Beach. Her current research focuses on access, retention and graduation of low-income, first-generation students and the transformation of teaching and learning addressing intellectual, social, emotional and spiritual student development.

Dr. Rendón earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She also earned a M.A. in counseling and guidance and psychology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville (1975). Dr. Rendon earned a B.A. in English and journalism from the University of Houston (1970), and holds an associate of arts degree from San Antonio College. She also attended Laredo Community College.

Dr. Rendón is co-editor of Transforming the First Year of College for Students of Color, Educating a New Majority, and Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Higher Education ASHE Reader. She is currently working on another book, Sentipensante (Sensing/Thinking) Pedagogy. Her scholarly work on access and achievement has been featured in the Chronicle of Higher Education and the PBS documentary, The College Track. She serves on the editorial boards of The Review of Higher Education, Educational Researcher, Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, Journal of Latinos and Education, and Journal of Chicana/Latina Studies. Dr. Rendon also serves on the local Advisory Board of the National Women’s Studies Association Journal, and the Advisory Board of On Campus with Women. She was also appointed to the Advisory Board of the Handbook of Latinos and Education.

Dr. Rendón is on the Board of Directors for the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for Naropa University and the National Advisory Board of the National Initiative of Women in Higher Education. She is past president of the Association for the Study of Higher Education, the nation’s premier scholarly organization focusing on higher education research.

Dr. Rendón has been a fellow of the Fetzer Institute, and she has directed research projects funded by the Ford Foundation and the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education.

Update on January 29, 2007