معرفی
Alessandra Bazo Vienrich serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Rhode Island College, where her research examines intersections of race, legal status, and educational pathways for Latinx students, particularly undocumented and DACA-recipient populations.
Her educational background includes:
- Ph.D. in Sociology from University of Massachusetts Boston
- Graduate Certificate in Survey Research from University of Massachusetts Boston
- M.A. in Sociology from Lehigh University
- B.A. in Sociology and Non-Profit Management from Salem College
Professor Bazo Vienrich's scholarship critically analyzes how American myths—including the Education Gospel, DREAM Act, and American Dream—motivate undocumented students while simultaneously creating systemic barriers. Her work reveals how racialized ethnicity, life stage, and political context shape student experiences, exposing contradictions between educational promises and realities of citizenship exclusion. Through mixed-methods approaches, she documents emotional consequences of pursuing higher education under precarious legal status.
Her publication record (2017-2024) consistently centers undocumented student experiences, with emerging emphasis on counselor support systems, racialized coping mechanisms, and institutional complicity in immigration enforcement. This body of work demonstrates evolving methodological sophistication from qualitative reflections to large-scale mixed-methods studies.
Her scientific recognition includes:
- Rhode Island College Excellence in Faculty Advising Award (2024)
- ICQCM Scholar appointment (2021-2023)
Professor Bazo Vienrich actively mentors students through independent studies, honors theses, master's projects, and McNair Scholar initiatives. She currently leads the Spencer Foundation-funded Massachusetts High School Counselor Study ($74,807, 2024-2026), investigating how Massachusetts schools support counselors advising undocumented students following the state's 2023 tuition equity expansion.
Her research program bridges academic scholarship with community advocacy, examining structural barriers while developing practical interventions for educational equity.
