Leading from the Middle: Advancing the HSI Movement Through Resilience and Community

Episode Description: We kick off season 8 of ¿Qué pasa, HSIs? discussing Dr. Garcia's new book "The HSI Movement: Strategies Driving Change at Hispanic Serving Institutions.” The conversation covers Dr. Lujan's personal journey in the HSI movement, including his role as Texas Tech's inaugural director of HSI initiatives and his leadership of a $3 million Title V grant, before transitioning into his current role in research development. Together, we explore key concepts from the book including processes of servingness, first-order versus second-order change, and leading for change from the middle, with Dr. Lujan drawing direct connections between the book's frameworks and his own lived experiences navigating anti-DEI legislation, institutional barriers, and the push for deeper organizational transformation beyond surface-level programming. The episode also highlights the critical role that professional associations such as TACHE (Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education) and AHSIE (Alliance of HSI Educators) play as the "connective tissue" of the HSI movement, providing community and shared best practices for educators who may feel isolated on their own campuses. Despite the current political pressures, this episode provides optimism and hope about the future of HSIs. Guest Jarett Lujan (he, him, el) Assistant Director for Research Development & Communications Texas Tech University LinkedIn:   / jarett-lujan-ph-d-a1043b7b   Instagram: @drjarettlujan Show Notes: https://www.angelo.edu/live/news/1985... https://ahsie.org/jarett-lujan-bio Lujan, J., & McNaughtan, J. (2024). Moscas en la leche: A critical evaluation of Hispanic-Serving Institution campus spaces through photovoice methodology. The Journal of Higher Education, 96(2), 197–222. https://doi.org/10.1080/00221546.2024... Lujan, J., McNaughtan, J., & Williams, B. (2024). “Not simply the act of enrolling”: Defining servingness at Hispanic‐serving community colleges. New Directions for Community Colleges, 2024(205), 115–129. https://doi.org/10.1002/cc.20617 McNaughtan, J., & Lujan, J. (2023). “A moral, ethical, and fiduciary obligation to serve”: Perceptions of the role of Presidents at Hispanic-serving community colleges. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 48(8), 491–505. https://doi.org/10.1080/10668926.2023... APA Citation: Garcia, G.A. (Host). (2026, September 6). Leading from the Middle: Advancing the HSI Movement Through Resilience and Community. (No.801) [Audio podcast episode]. In ¿Qué pasa, HSIs?.