Jose R. Aguilar Jr. is an enthusiastic and driven scholar educator, bringing a wealth of experience and a reliable commitment to addressing systemic issues in education. Born out of his personal experiences as a first-generation college student and a keen observer of the challenges faced by underrepresented communities, Jose has dedicated his career to dismantling the barriers that hinder the educational aspirations of young men of color.
Jose's teaching experience further underscores his commitment to building inclusive and engaging educational climates. As a Computer Science and Math Teacher at Manual Arts High School, he provided differentiated instruction for diverse students, incorporating culturally relevant pedagogy and advocating for anti-racist socialization in mathematics.
Jose's research experience indicates his commitment to making a tangible impact on educational equity. As a former Russlynn Ali Fellow at Education Trust West (ETW), he led a project exploring math equity in California public schools. His work involved collecting statewide data on socioeconomic and ethnic sub-groups, implementing big data pipelines, and identifying outlier school districts with exemplary graduation rates.
Jose has also contributed to organizations such as The Campaign for College Opportunity, where he serves as a Policy Research Fellow. In this role, he conducts research and analysis on California public higher education, focusing on the experiences of low-income, underrepresented, and undocumented students.
Jose is a doctoral student in the Policy, Politics, and Leadership program at UC Berkeley's School of Education. His research interests include: understanding factors influencing the aspirations of men of color in higher education, the transition from K-12 into higher education, the access and equity in higher education, and students' higher education pathways.
He also holds an M.A. in Urban Education, Policy & Administration from Loyola Marymount University, a B.S.A. in Computer Science, and a B.A. in Government, Mexican American & Latina/o Studies from The University of Texas at Austin.
Specializations and Interests
Boys & Young Men Of Color; Latine College Access Pathways; Social Networks; Big Data in Education; Race and Education Policy
