Research Team: 2021/2022 – Transitions Research

Eréndira Rueda, Associate Professor of Sociology

Saludos Transitions students!

I’m Professor Rueda (she/ella), one of the faculty members on campus who identifies as part of the Transitions Family. I grew up in East L.A. and the San Gabriel Valley in Southern California. I’m fiercely proud of having grown up in a Spanish-speaking, telenovela-watching, low-income Mexican immigrant family and of being the first in my family to go beyond a middle school education. I am sibling-mother to three younger siblings (including Samuel Rueda, who is currently the HA for Noyes and Main Houses!) and have always been the path breaker in my family. I take great pride in the fact that my success has always been the result of collective efforts in my family, that it has reflected the hard work and sacrifices that my parents made as immigrants, and that I am now in the position to serve as the safety net for my family.

Fun facts: I picked up boxing a couple years ago (so cathartic!) and discovered I’m a “southpaw”, though I’m right-handed. I’m a little obsessed with mini-donkeys. I’m bi-coastal (CA-NY) in non-pandemic years. It makes my eyes water when students send me postcards from their worldly travels. I’m an extroverted sociologist who loves to do things in groups, including research.

Majella Sheehan – Class of 2022

Hi! I’m Majella Sheehan and I’m from the Bronx, NY. I’m a Sociology Major with a Correlate in Education. I’m a first-generation college student and a child of immigrants, and Vassar’s support through the Transitions Program for students like myself was a deciding factor in my decision to come to Vassar. My studies and my involvement with the Transitions Program (including this research team!) have allowed me not only to see my own experiences reflected and validated, but also to develop a sense of pride in my first-gen identity. At Vassar, I have been an intern for the Student Growth and Engagement Office and a Student Leader for the Transitions Program. And I’m currently working on a thesis focused on the concept of “mattering” among first-gen students! In my free time, I can be found going on nature walks, enjoying podcasts, and attempting to learn to play the drums.

Fun Fact: This summer I was working from home and perfected my chocolate chip pumpkin bread recipe 🙂

Maira Vargas – Class of 2022

Hi y’all! My name is Maira Vargas (she/her). I was born in Barranquilla, Colombia (where Shakira’s from!), and moved to Brooklyn when I was 5. At Vassar, I’m a Sociology and Education double major. In the last couple of years I’ve worked as an Exploring College Tutor, Student Fellow, and tour guide!

I can’t believe this is my last year in the Transitions Research Team and cannot express how grateful I am for this experience! I have learned invaluable research skills and been able to better understand my own experience as a first-generation student. I also cannot go without mentioning the incredible people the team has brought into my life and the guidance of Professor Rueda!

This year I am working on my thesis, which focuses on the experiences of Black and Latine college students at elite PWIs who were tracked as high-achieving students through middle school and high school. The project examines the role that race and Whiteness play in high-tracked classrooms. If you ask me about it, I will not stop talking (: I’ve also been incredibly blessed to work for an incredible nonprofit in NYC called DonorsChoose!

Fun fact: This year you’ll find me a little stressed about my thesis, my housemate’s cat Georgia, and figuring out what time to take my chocolate chip cookies out of the TA ovens so they don’t burn!

Leonard Versola – Class of 2023

Hello everyone! My name is Leonard (they/them/theirs) but most people call me Leo. I was born and raised in Quezon City, Manila, Philippines, and I moved to Las Vegas, Nevada when I was ten years old. Currently, I am a junior with a double major in Music and Education and a correlate in Sociology. On campus, I participate a lot in performing art organizations (BAM A Capella, UJIMA), some identity organizations and programs (Southeast Asian Student’s Alliance, Transitions), and other miscellaneous groups (Vassar Students Association, QuestBridge).

As a low-income, first-generation, and immigrant student, college was a goal with no step-by-step instruction. It was only late in my high-school career that QuestBridge entered my radar and led me to Vassar. A busy and stressful college application season ultimately resulted in my admittance to Vassar, and so I moved myself halfway across the country.

My first semester at Vassar introduced me to Sociology. Learning the vocabulary and theories of why higher education was such a challenge for so many students like me helped me contextualize my position and validate my belonging in college. I am passionate about giving voice to the experiences of low-income, first-generation, undocumented, and immigrant students as we tell our unique stories of how we got here.

Fun Fact: I graduated from a performing arts high school with a focus on classical vocal performance, music composition, music production, costume design, and art history.