Victoria Melgarejo

What were you doing prior to applying to the GSE?

I was an undergraduate student at UC Santa Barbara, where I double majored in sociocultural linguistics and Spanish. I had several opportunities to engage in undergraduate research, including participating in the McNair Scholars Program and working closely with Professor Mary Bucholtz. 

What was the focus of your master’s or qualifying project?

For my qualifying project I used some of the data we collected in a larger research-practice partnership (RPP). The larger study focused on examining the schooling experiences of Latinx high school students who were designated as long-term English learners, a classification used to describe students in California who have been designated as English learners for six or more years. My study focused on their high school academic trajectories, with a particular focus on completion of core classes and college eligibility. I also examined students’ perspectives on their English proficiency. This work continues to influence my current dissertation work.

Are there any particular highlights of your time at Stanford?

Some of the best courses I have taken during my time at Stanford have been through the Haas Center for Public Service and Cardinal Courses. Some of these courses are designed with a local community partnership, for example with after-school programs or local schools. I highly recommend enrolling in at least a few Cardinal Courses during your time here.  

Another highlight for me was the GSE’s certificate program in partnership research. This program has a course sequence and requires research participation in an RPP. As a research assistant I worked in an RPP that focused on examining the implications of the long-term English learner designation. I worked closely with amazing professors for a multi-year project and learned about RPP work in practice. This experience has influenced how I hope to conduct research in the future. 

What do you do to relax and have fun?

I am very close to my family and love to call my family (almost daily!) on my walks to campus. These calls allow me to stay connected even during busy days. I also love to attend events at El Centro Chicano y Latino. Some of the events include talks, book talks, Cafecito, and graduate student social events. I am a Graduate Scholar in Residence at El Centro and have met lots of undergraduate and graduate students who also study and attend events at the center. 

Any tips for incoming students to help them get the most from their time here?

I highly recommend browsing the different courses offered across the university for skills or topics of interest. For example, I was able to take many methods courses across departments. This was super helpful as I worked on different writing milestones and as I developed and sharpened my own research skills. I also benefited from working with peers from across departments. Their perspectives, insights, and feedback were invaluable. I also recommend taking some courses at Berkeley.