Dr. Emilio Solano, Assistant Provost for Institutional Equity and Community Engagement, will share scholarship from his dissertation, "Fighting to Be Seen: The Personal and Teacher Identity of White-Passing Biracial (Latinx/White) Teachers."
When: Wednesday, Oct. 12
Time: Noon
Where: Alumni Lounge, UC third floor. Free food!
As the Latinx and multiracial population continue to be two of the fastest growing subgroups in the United States, the teacher of color gap remains. Multiracial students, just like monoracial students of color, need teachers who share similar experiences. Previous research on biracial identity has largely ignored the experiences of Latinx/White biracial individuals, and the literature on teacher identity among teachers of color lacks a biracial perspective. Additionally, little research has focused on the experiences of White-passing individuals. This critical narrative inquiry interviewed seven White-passing biracial (Latinx/White) K–12 public school teachers in the Pacific Northwest to understand how their experiences influence their personal and teacher identity, why they became teachers, and how their identity informs their teaching practice.
Solano started as Assistant Provost of Institutional Equity and Community Engagement in June 2022. In this role he assists in the development and promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives throughout the University and its respective colleges and units as well as relationship building and strategic partnerships in the Salem/Keizer and Portland communities. Additionally, Solano chairs the university-wide DEI committee.
Born and raised in Salem, graduating from Sprague High School, Solano graduated from Willamette in 2009 with a bachelor's degree in History and American Ethnic Studies. Solano was accepted into the Teach for America Corps and relocated to Los Angeles. He forever brings with him his experience as a former middle school history and language arts teacher and has served as assistant principal at Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, as dean of students at the ICEF Inglewood Middle Charter Academy, and as a corps member advisor and school director during Teach For America's summer institute. Prior to joining the Provost office Solano was the executive director of Willamette Academy, the university's out-of-school college access program, from 2016-2022.
Solano earned a master's degree in Urban Education: Policy and Administration from Loyola Marymount University and completed coursework through the National Academy of Advanced Teacher Education (NAATE). In 2021, he graduated with a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.) from Lewis & Clark College.
