Riding the Academic Freedom Train

From the Foreword: "In this volume, Dr. Jeanett Castellanos, Dr. White, and Veronica Franco share practical information, actionable steps, resources, and powerful narratives connected to the seven tenets of Dr. White’s teachings. The authors’ depth of knowledge, passion, and care comes across in each chapter. Riding the Academic Freedom Train exemplifies Dr. Joseph White’s transformative mentoring practices.

We believe [this book] will inspire you to work or continue working for the liberation of People of Color wherever we may be on this planet. It will also remind us to never forget that the light has never been at the end of the tunnel, it has always been inside of us."

Nayeli Y. Chavez-Dueñas and Hector Y. Adames

"As a former student of Dr. Jeanett Castellanos and the late Dr. Joe White, I can attest that Riding the Academic Freedom Train is a comprehensive, critical, and practical guide to mentorship - based on decades-long experience in mentoring and empowering hundreds of students. It is a genuine act of solidarity that the authors share their expertise, so that future generations can benefit from the guidance that changed the trajectory of my life."

Kevin Nadal, Distinguished Professor, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, USA

"Riding the Academic Freedom Train offers inspiration for those who believe in the promise of inclusive higher education. Dr. Joseph White was the preeminent icon for mentorship for students often rendered invisible and marginalized because of their ethnic and racial visible identity. Mentorship is an intentional relationship and Dr. White’s multiracial multiethnic multicultural mentoring (M3) model has persisted for over 5 decades. The book amplifies the essence of culturally responsive mentorship, a practice of empowerment and community cohesiveness in academic spaces."

Patricia Arredondo, President, Arredondo Advisory Group

"Riding the Academic Freedom Train should be mandatory reading for all university faculty, Deans, Department Chairs, and Presidents. For those who are committed to creating a truly inclusive environment, this book provides a roadmap supporting BIPOC students so that classrooms and campuses can be culturally relevant and enriched. The authors, all of whom are BIPOC, offer this timely and much needed guide with meticulously researched frameworks and practical strategies. Particularly noteworthy is their culturally responsive mentoring model that offers transformation and liberation for all students."

Anne Chan, Author and Diversity Consultant

"Riding the Academic Freedom Train provides an important resource in understanding the BIPOC student mentoring. As the nation continues to experience diversity and multiculturalism, it is imperative that we understand BIPOC student experiences and their needs. We must provide deans, faculty, and chairs the necessary tools to best support BIPOC students. Culturally responsive mentoring models that account for the intersectionality of identities while facilitating educational pathways are imperative. This book explains the complexities of students’ experiences, factors that promote their success, and practices that can ensure inclusivity, engagement, and the pursuit of a graduate education."

Loui Olivas, Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University, and Past President, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE), USA

“Mentoring from the perspectives of student and faculty relationships, model programs and practices, theoretical frameworks and research, and scholars and practitioners continue to be examined in the literature. Riding the Academic Freedom Train: A Culturally Responsive, Multigenerational Mentoring Model approaches mentoring in more deeply nuanced ways than previously written. The authors take a critical look at culturally responsive mentoring models and cases that begin with segregation followed by the educational experiences of black, indigenous faculty and students of color in colleges and universities. This book is an excellent read for college and university faculty, students, and administrators who seek to broaden our understanding of how American heritage impacts liberty and social justice for all.”

Christine A. Stanley, Regents Professor, Texas A&M University, USA

"For a dedicated audience looking to create meaningful institutional change, this book would make an apt accompaniment for a learning group or task force of faculty, student and academic affairs staff, and administrators."

Camille Johnson, Professor of Management in the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business at San Jose State University, USA