Conceptualizing Latina/o philanthropy in higher education: A study of Latina/o undergraduate alumni from a predominantly white Jesuit institution

摘要

There has been a growing body of research on Latina/o undergraduate students, primarily in the areas of access and retention, yet there is limited research on Latina/o baccalaureate alumni and their post-graduation institutional engagement. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and understand how Latina/o alumni define their roles as alumni, interact with their alma mater, and give to the institution. Using Yosso\u27s (2005) Community Cultural Wealth model as a guiding framework for this study, four themes emerged which highlights the different ways Latina/o alumni approach giving: Latina/o alumni as university ambassadors; careers, community, and giving; Latina/o alumni as targeted givers; and competence, conscience, and compassion: the importance of the university\u27s vision and mission. Implications for alumni associations, development, public relations, and student affairs and recommendations for future research are discussed.