Dr. Sonja Ardoin, assistant professor of student affairs administration in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling in Appalachian State University's Reich College of Education (RCOE), has co-authored her third book, Straddling Class in the Academy, with dr. becky martinez, an organization development consultant and trainer with Infinity Martinez Consulting. The book was released May 23, 2019. The text features content on the complexity of social class, stories from 26 individuals (students, administrators, and faculty members) throughout the academy, narrative analysis across the stories, and implications for policy and practice.
“We believe storytelling is a form of social justice, and we hope the combination of the 26 stories in the book and our recommendations for policy and practice allow higher education institutions to advance social class equity.” --Ardoin
“This book began as a conversation that dr. martinez and I had after facilitating a conference session; the time felt too short for the topic, and we knew not everyone interested had the ability to attend conferences,” said Ardoin. “We wanted to open the conversation around social class identity and higher education to more people.”
Ardoin continued, “We believe storytelling is a form of social justice, and we hope the combination of the 26 stories in the book and our recommendations for policy and practice allow higher education institutions to advance social class equity.”
In her review of the book, Rosemary J. Perez, an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Iowa State University said, "Straddling Class in the Academy is a must read for students and educators. Ardoin, martinez, and their contributors masterfully challenge the myth that class is invisible by sharing their lived experiences navigating class and classism in and outside of the academy. The intersectional nature of contributors’ narratives and Ardoin and martinez’s analysis highlights the powerful effects of classism and calls for action if we are to create more inclusive and socially just institutions."
“Dr. Ardoin is a dedicated, early-career professional who is advancing the field of student affairs administration through her research and scholarly endeavors,” said Dr. Melba Spooner, dean of the RCOE. “She is engaging in critical work that will produce transformational change related to college access and success.”
Additionally, Ardoin and martinez were featured guests on a HigherEd/Student Affairs Live Episode, Social Class in Student Affairs, on April 24 to discuss their new book and how social class shows up in higher education. The authors also engaged in a pre-release book signing at the American College Personnel Association and National Association of Student Personnel Association conferences in March, and Ardoin will also be signing books at the First Generation Student Success conference in Orlando on June 17.
Ardoin earned a Ph.D. in educational research and policy analysis from North Carolina State University, a M.S. in higher education and student affairs from Florida State University, and a B.S. in secondary education from Louisiana State University. She joined the RCOE faculty in 2018.
Ardoin’s research focuses on four areas:
- social class identity in higher education;
- college access and success for first-generation college students and students from rural areas;
- career preparation and pathways for higher education and student affairs;
- student and women's leadership.
Earlier this academic year, she received the 2019–21 American College Personnel Association (ACPA) Emerging Scholar Award and the 2019 Socioeconomic and Class Issues in Higher Education Knowledge Community (SCIHE KC) Outstanding Service to National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Award.
Ardoin’s additional work on social class identity can be found in the following publications:
- College Aspirations and Access in Working-Class Rural Communities: The Mixed Signals, Challenges, and New Language First-Generation Students Encounter (Ardoin, 2018);
- New Directions for Student Services: Social Class in Student Affairs (Martin & Elkins, 2018);
- Changing the Narrative: Socially Just Leadership Education (Guthrie & Chunoo, 2018);
- Debunking the Myth of Job Fit in Higher Education and Student Affairs (Reece et al., 2018;
- Contested Issues in Troubled Times: Student Affairs Dialogues on Equity, Civility, and Safety (Magolda, Baxter-Magolda, & Carducci, 2019); and
- Case studies for student development theory: Advancing social justice & inclusion in higher education (Garvey et al., 2019).
Sonja Ardoin
