Susana Muñoz

Susana M. Muñoz, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Higher Education Leadership at Colorado State University (CSU), leading Equity Initiatives and Faculty Development within the College of Health and Human Sciences. Her research focuses on equity, identity, and campus climate for undocumented Latinx students, employing frameworks like Latinx Critical Race Theory, Chicana Feminist Epistemology, and anti-colonial ethics to challenge systemic inequities.

• Education: Ph.D. in Educational Leadership (Iowa State), M.S. in Student Affairs (CSU), B.A. in Political Science (Iowa State)
• Prior Experience: 13 years in student affairs (multicultural programs, TRiO, residence life)
• Awards: Robert H. Shaffer Award (2024), Mildred García Award (ASEH), NASPA Outstanding Faculty Award

Her work critiques how racist nativism and white supremacy manifest in higher education, advocating for humanizing pedagogies and institutional reforms. Key contributions include analyzing the impact of Trump-era policies on undocumented students and redefining equity through anti-colonial ethics.

Publications highlight strategies for supporting marginalized students, dismantling systemic barriers, and reimagining HSI practices. She consults nationally on equity-centered strategic planning and serves as a voice for undocuactivists in policy debates.

• Key Themes: Undocumented student resilience, institutional legal violence, Chicana epistemology
• Practice Focus: Linking theory to action, culturally engaging campus environments