Alma Nidia Garza

Alma Nidia Garza is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at The University of Texas at Arlington. Her research focuses on race, ethnicity, social class, and culture in educational contexts, particularly how institutional structures and cultural dynamics influence student opportunities. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Irvine (2020), an MA in Social Science (2015), an MS in Sociology (2013), and a BBA in Marketing Research (2006).

• Education History:
  • PhD in Sociology, University of California, Irvine (2020)
  • MA in Social Science, University of California, Irvine (2015)
  • MS in Sociology, Oklahoma State University (2013)
  • BBA in Marketing Research, University of Texas at Austin (2006)

Her research interests include the sociology of education, Latino sociology, and intersectionality. She investigates how university environments shape the trajectories of first-generation Hispanic students and how parental resource use impacts children’s well-being. Notable awards include the 2024 Excellence in Service to the Community Award and the Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship (2020–2022).

She advises multiple students on capstone and thesis projects and serves on university committees such as the Hispanic Faculty Advisory Council and the Sociology Colloquium Committee. She has taught courses like Sociological Theory, Sociology of Education, and Latino Narratives.

• Grants:
  • Spencer Postdoctoral Fellowship ($70,000)
  • Mellon Career Enhancement Fellowship ($35,000)
  • Treading Borders Research ($23,878)

Her work often explores how cultural and institutional factors perpetuate educational inequalities, with a focus on marginalized communities.