Joyce Roys

M.A. in Education, 2009
School of Education

December 1, 2008

First Generation College Graduate Researches Ways to Help Others Achieve Educational Goals

Born and raised in Santa Ana, Joyce Roys considers herself a proud graduate of Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD). After her high school graduation, she attended Orange Coast College (OCC) in Costa Mesa and completed an Associate’s Degree before transferring to California State University, Fullerton (CSUF).

Joyce received her Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Ethnic Studies with a concentration in Chicana/o Studies. As an undergraduate, Joyce participated in a variety of programs that created a continuous connection to her community and gente through various avenues of education. As a CSUF Ronald E. McNair Scholar, she was exposed to the importance of academic research opportunities and graduate school. She worked with CSUF’s Talent Search program as an Assistant Academic Advisor to Anaheim High School students. In addition, she volunteered with the YMCA of Anaheim AmeriCorps and is currently still a volunteer with the Orange County Bar Foundation’s Higher Education Mentoring program as a mentor to SAUSD high school Latinas.

Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Joyce was accepted to UCI’s inaugural PhD in Education program, specializing in Educational Policy and Social Context. Her current research interests include higher education access, equity and diversity, with a particular focus on the roles of the community college for Chicano/Latino students. In her first-year project, Joyce explored the qualities that influence university transfer for Latina/o community college transfer students. Her research has been accepted to the American Educational Research Association (AERA) National Conference in the spring.

Now into her second year, Joyce has presented at the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE) National Conference and was awarded a Conference Graduate Student Fellowship to attend the National Conference for the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) in the spring.

As a first-generation college graduate, Joyce’s educational pathway proved to be challenging. But Joyce’s personal and professional aspirations and community involvement have led her to pursue a continuous connection to her roots, community, and gente through education.

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