Dr. Santos Mendoza has received national recognition within the field of student affairs for his outstanding contributions, including being named a 2024 ACPA Foundation Diamond Honoree by the American College Personnel Association.
In addition to his scholarship, he serves as the Vice President of Equity and Inclusion for ACPA – College Student Educators International and as a Trustee of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.
He serves as Director of the Intercultural Resource Center at Rutgers University–Newark.
He is also Adjunct Faculty in the Honors Living-Learning Community at Rutgers University-Newark.
He received his a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership/Higher Education at Florida Atlantic University.
His research interests include Queer Latine college students, identity & intersectionality, cultural centers, and support for underrepresented communities.
Explore a Curated Collection of Gary’s Work
Explore a curated collection of our past work, where imagination meets strategy. Each project reflects our drive to deliver thoughtful, effective solutions.
Heart Work explores the histories, challenges, and evolving practices of cultural and identity centers across higher education, including spaces supporting Latinx/e, Asian and Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Indigenous, Black, Disabled, LGBTQ+, and undocumented student communities. In the context of shifting university politics and societal change, the book offers strategies for practitioners to sustain and advance this work.
Published by Emerald Publishing, the handbook helps faculty, staff, and practitioners better understand intersectionality, oppression, and the lived experiences shaping cultural and identity centers today.
This updated practical guide helps readers create a personalized strategy for shaping their careers in higher education, student affairs, and related fields.
Built around five key components—lifelong learning, job search and experience-building, networking, self-reflection and well-being, and professional development planning—the second edition adds new content and 20 real career stories from diverse professionals. It serves as a valuable resource for prospective, early-career, and seasoned practitioners navigating career growth and pivots.
Pulido et al. (2025) examine how queer and trans Latinx/a/o scholar-practitioners navigate isolation and oppression in higher education by creating intentional community. Using queer pláticas, the study highlights how collective spaces foster belonging, reciprocity, and shared growth, offering implications for research and practice that center QTL experiences in academia.
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