An inspiring role model for students and an outstanding scholar, researcher and teacher, Jennifer Cabrera is this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Student award.

The proud daughter and granddaughter of immigrants from Sinaloa, Mexico, Jennifer is a first-generation college student. She earned a B.A. in child and adolescent development from California State University, Northridge before earning her M.A. in education from UC Irvine. Jennifer is now pursuing a Ph.D. in sociology at UC Irvine. Her dissertation explores how Latinas use Instagram to access critical knowledge, build community and cultivate cultural wealth to thrive in academia.

Throughout her personal and academic journey, Jennifer has strived to support others who share her experiences. She created Academic Latina, an online community with over 31,000 followers, to support and uplift other Latinas in academia. By sharing encouragement, honest insights and practical advice about navigating graduate school, she hopes to inspire others and validate their journeys.

Beyond her extensive research contributions, which include publications in journals such as Social Networking and Race Ethnicity and Education, Jennifer is dedicated to service within the UC Irvine community. She has mentored more than 75 first-generation college students through the Competitive Edge Summer Research Program, the Research Discovery Program, and the Summer Undergraduate Research Program. Her work with DECADE, a program for graduate students, earned her the “Outstanding DECADE Representative” award from the UC Irvine Graduate Division.

Jennifer is committed to advancing educational equality. Her passion for teaching and her experiences as an instructor at various institutions – including CSU Northridge, Santa Ana College and UC Irvine – continue to motivate her to learn and understand the diverse needs of students so she can adapt her mentoring skills to meet those needs.

Her goal to become a faculty member and broaden access to academia for marginalized communities aligns with her vision of a future where more Latinas see themselves reflected and thriving in academia.