School of Education faculty member D-L Stewart was recently recognized for research in post-secondary education and contributions to studying issues relating to students’ outcomes.

The Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals, a national member-based organization, honored Stewart with the 2018 Research and Assessment Award at the Creating Change conference in January.

“Initially, it’s always shocking,” Stewart said. “I’m not doing the work I do for recognition, but I’m very humbled and it feels very validating.”

Stewart’s research consists of looking at the role of institutions in public discourse, specifically with students who have minoritized identities, including matters relating to race, ethnicity, sexuality and class, and how those interact and intersect to shape students’ experiences on campus.

Student Affairs in Higher Ed professor

A professor in and co-chair of the school’s Student Affairs in Higher Education master’s degree program, Stewart enjoys teaching student development theory and higher education administration. Many of their (Stewart’s pronouns include the gender-neutral they, them, theirs) students are grappling with realizations about their own identities, all while dealing with the political climate outside of the classroom, including bias-related incidents on campus. As these issues often come up in the classroom, Stewart has been impressed with the SAHE students and their ability to manage working within their own identities while providing support for students through assistantships in on-campus roles.

“We often think of first responders [after a campus tragedy] as law enforcement and medical personnel,” Stewart said, “when in reality, it’s the hall directors and resident assistants that are dealing with the aftermath for months, sometimes even years. It’s difficult work, and it’s the work that student affairs professionals are doing all around the country.”

Relatively new to CSU, Stewart has learned a lot while engaging with SAHE’s diverse cohort, and said that working with SAHE students on CSU’s campus has been “phenomenal.” They are planning to conduct more research in community engagement, higher education institutions, and working to satisfy and support the needs of the community.

The School of Education is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.