College of Education and Human Development

Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development

Heidi Barajas

  • Associate Professor Emerita

Heidi Barajas

Areas of interest

Race, class, gender and educational attainment
Diversity and inclusion in higher education
Transformational models of public engagement
Gender and leadership

Degrees

Ph.D., University of Minnesota, sociology
M.S., University of Utah, sociology
B.A., University of Utah, Spanish Education

Biography

Heidi Lasley Barajas is currently serving as the interim Associate Vice President for Public Engagement at the University of Minnesota and is an associate professor in the College of Education and Human Development. She has served the University of Minnesota in many leadership roles including the Executive Director of the University’s Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), an Associate Dean in the College of Education and Human Development, as the chair in OLPD, as founding chair of the Department of Postsecondary Teaching and Learning, and as a founding member of the Women’s Faculty Cabinet. 

A sociologist by training, Dr. Barajas joined the University of Minnesota faculty in 2000. Her research, teaching and public service center on issues related to equity and inclusion, with a focus on building educational institutions that support students across differences of race, gender, and class. Her work crosses disciplinary boundaries with publications in journals such as Gender and Society, Teachers College Record, and The Good Society. Her research also includes work in pedagogy and access through the lens of Universal Instructional Design through publication in journals such as About Campus. 

Dr. Barajas has also partnered with several notable funders including grant support from the U.S Department of Education, the Wallace Reader’s Digest fund, the Bush Foundation, and the McKnight Foundation. She has been honored for her work in diversity and equity including the Josie R Johnson Human Rights and Social Justice Award, and the University’s Public Sociology Award. 

Dr. Barajas, who is a native Californian, received a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Minnesota as a National Science Foundation Fellow; she also holds a B.A. in Spanish and education and a master's degree in sociology from the University of Utah. She has four children and eleven grandchildren.

Course taught

OLPD 5041—Sociology of Education

Publications

Barajas, H., (2022). Standing up for the we: Equity and the civic reconstruction of higher education. The Good Society.

Barajas, H., Musil, C.M. (2021). Diversity: An Investment in Democracy and Academic Excellence in Re-envisioning the public research university: Navigating competing demands in an era of rapid change. Eds. Furco, A, Bruininks, R.H., Jones, R.J., and Kent, K. Routledge: New York & London.

Barajas, H. L. (2016). Increasing possibilities through shared spaces. Metropolitan Universities. Vol 27, n 3: 2-5.

Barajas, H. L., Martin, L. (2016). Proximity in the 5th year: Sharing community-university place-based spaces. Metropolitan Universities. Vol 27, n 3: 47-66.

Barajas, H., Smalkoski, K., Kaplan, M., Yang, Y. (2012). “Hmong Families and Education: Partnership as Essential Link to Discovery.” Cura Reporter, vol 42, n 3: 3-9.

Higbee, J. L., & Barajas, H. L. (2007). Building effective places for multicultural learning. About Campus, 12(3), 16-22.

Barajas, H.L., & Ronnkvist, A. (2007). Racialized space: Framing Latino and Latina experience in public schools. Teachers College Record, vol 9, n 6: 1517-1538.

Barajas, H. L., and Pierce, J. L. (2005) “The significance of race and gender in school success among Latinas and Latinos in college.” Gender & Society, vol 15, n 6, pp. 859-878, reprinted in Elizabeth Higginbotham and Margaret Anderson (Eds.) Race and Ethnicity in Society: The Changing Landscape. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company.

Barajas, H.L. Creating spheres of freedom: (2005). The connection of developmental education, multicultural education, and student experience. Book Chapter in The General College Vision: Integrating Intellectual Growth, Multicultural Perspectives and Student Development. Minneapolis, MN: Center for Research in Developmental Education and Urban Literacy, General College, University of Minnesota

Barajas, H.L., Higbee, J.L. (2003). Where do we go from here? Universal Design as a model for multicultural education. In J.L. Higbee (ed.), Curriculum transformation and disability: Implementing universal design in higher education. Minneapolis, MN: Center for Research on Developmental Education and Urban Literacy, General College. University of Minnesota.

Barajas, H. L. (2002). Changing objects to subjects: Transgressing normative service learning approaches” in Urban Literacy and Developmental Education.. D.B. Lundell & J.L. Higbee (Eds.). Minneapolis, MN: Center for Research in Developmental Education and Urban Literacy, General College, University of Minnesota

Barajas , H. L. & Pierce, J.L. (2001). The significance of race and gender in school success among Latinas and Latinos in college. Gender and Society. 15 (6), pp. 859-78

Louis, K., Jones, L., & Barajas, H.L. (2001) Districts and Schools as a Context for Transformed Counseling Roles. National Association of Secondary School Principals Bulletin, the Journal for Middle Level and High School Leaders. 85 (625), 62-71.

Davison Aviles, R., Guerrero, M., & Barajas Howarth, H. (1999). Perceptions of Chicano/Latino Students Who have Dropped Out of School. Journal of Counseling and Development V. 77 No 4 pp. 465-73.

Presentations

Barajas, H. L. Invited presentation to the Council on Graduate Schools Summer Workshop “Universities as Catalysts for Equity and Social Justice.” July 10, 2022. Minneapolis, Minnesota.

*Barajas, H., Lewis, J., Kaler, L. Everyone lifts: #Thrive Graduate student mental health partnership. Presentation for the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) conference on diversity, equity, & student success. March, 2022. New Orleans, LA.

Furco, A., and H.L. Barajas. Civic Engagement at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities: Case Study. AERA International conference Civic Studies: The University as civic catalyst. December 3-4, 2021. St Paul, MN. (invited)

*Ronnkvist, A. and H. L. Barajas. Building successful partnerships to drive impact. National Scholarship Providers Association (NSPA) conference. October 20, 2020. Virtual conference.

Barajas, H.L. and K Smalkoski. Working through the lens of community engagement: Hey, is this what I signed up for? Invited workshop for the Minnesota Evaluation Studies Institute, March 13, 2019.

Furco, A. and H. Barajas. Building the engaged university: A 21st century approach to community engagement in higher education. Invited talk the Big Ten Alliance Academic Leadership Program. October 13, 2018.

*Barajas, H. October 2018.  Influencing the faculty: Department chairs as engaged leaders.”  Coalition on Urban and Metropolitan Universities Conference (CUMU), Chicago, IL.

*Barajas, H. and A. Telles. October 2017. “Press the redo button! Lessons learned in documenting engagement work. Coalition on Urban and Metropolitan Universities Conference (CUMU). Denver, CO.

*Barajas, H. and J. DeSota. October, 2017. “Feeding the engagement: Moving a job creation project from goal to sustainability.

*Barajas, H. (February, 2017). “Engaged Scholarship and Educational Partnerships: Intention and Community Inclusion.” Pedagogia. Havana, Cuba.

*Barajas, H. and Telles, A. (October, 2015). “Context Matters: Finding Community in Educational Equity Efforts.” Coalition on Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU). Omaha, NE.

*Barajas, H. and Musil, C. M. (March, 2015). “High Octane HIPS: Student Success Through Civic and Diversity Learning.” Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) Diversity, Learning and Student Success: Assessing and Advancing Inclusive Excellence. San Diego, CA. (invited)

Barajas, H. (June, 2014). “Working with Interesting, Challenging, Difficult People.” National Children, Youth, and Families at Risk Conference, Washington, DC (invited)

Barajas, H., Smalkoski, K. (August, 2010). “Choice Matters: Urban Hmong and the suburban school.” The Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP), Atlanta, GA. (invited)

*Barajas, H., Burton, L. (March 2010). “A Comparative Look at Diverse Students in Service-Learning.” Comparative and International Education Society (CIES), Chicago, Illinois.

*Barajas, H., Burton, L., Ronnkvist, A. (November, 2008). “From Disequilibrium to Literacy: Diverse Students and Service-Learning.” Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), Jacksonville, Florida.

*Barajas, H., Jones, R., Maruyama, G., McClaurin, I., Taylor, C. (October, 2008). “Bridging Traditions: Applying Land Grant Principles for Urban Settings.” Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), Cincinnati, Ohio.

*Barajas, H. (March, 2008). “Universal Instructional Design: Re-centering Our Classrooms Through Inclusive Pedagogy.” Teacher Development Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa.

*Higbee, J., Barajas, H., Cordano, D. (July, 2006). “Universal Design for Multiculturalism: Strategies that Enhance Diversity Experiences.” Association on Higher Education and Disability Conference (AHEAD). San Diego, CA.

*Miksch, K., Barajas, H., Jehangir, R., & Drane, D. (November, 2005). “How are we going to fix the pipeline if we can’t consider race? Legal challenges and research support for pre-college and retention programs.” Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), Philadelphia, PA.

Barajas, H. (May 2005). “Create, Connect, Sustain. Mujeres Fuertes del Futuro.” Girls Getting Ahead Leadership Program 2nd Annual Networking Luncheon. Minneapolis, MN. Invited Keynote

*Barajas, H., Ronkvist, A. (August, 2004). “Race and public schools: School organizations as a racialized white space.” American Sociological Association, San Francisco CA

*Barajas, H. L., Howarth, A., Telles, A. (2003). “Schools as White Spaces: Linking Theory, Research and Student experience.” National Association of Chicano and Chicana Studies Midwest FOCO, Minneapolis MN.

*Barajas, H., Ronkvist, A. (April, 2003). “Schools as Racial Projects: Questioning the neutrality of race in school spaces.” American Educational Research Association, Chicago IL April 2003.

*Barajas, H., and Seashore, K. (April, 2003). “Growing real reform slowly: Discourse as an indicator of change.” American Educational Research Association, Chicago IL.