Baker Family Scholar Rosa Reyes Brings a Personal Commitment to Educational Equity
When Rosa Reyes begins the Doctor of Education (EdD) program at American University's Baker School of Education this fall, she'll arrive with a clear purpose: to use research, leadership, and lived experience to create more equitable opportunities for immigrant students in higher education. She is also making history as the inaugural recipient of the Baker Family Scholarship, a new award established to support recruiting and retaining graduate students, which she received for her outstanding leadership and commitment to educational change.
Reyes brings significant professional experience to the EdD program, where she will take the higher education and student affairs track. As Director of the Dream Partnership and Student Success Advisor at Trinity Washington University, she supports immigrant and immigration-impacted students through academic advising, student success programming, and scholarship management.
Her work is deeply rooted in her own journey.
As someone who was formerly undocumented, Reyes understands the uncertainty many students face while pursuing higher education. She credits education with opening doors that transformed her life and is committed to ensuring others have access to those same opportunities.
"The most rewarding part of my career has been being the person for my students that I didn't have when I was in their shoes," she said. "I hope that when they see my journey, they're reminded that their circumstances don't define what they're capable of achieving."
That commitment is what drew her to the Baker School.
"I was looking for a community that shared my values," Reyes said. "The Baker School's commitment to preparing educators who actively work toward equity and creating antiracist learning environments really aligned with why I want to pursue a career in education."
She was inspired by the university's Immigration Lab and its work supporting immigrant communities through research, advocacy, and education. The opportunity to contribute to that work while learning from faculty whose scholarship addresses pressing educational challenges made American University the right fit.
The Baker Family Scholarship is part of the historic gift from the late Kogod School of Business Professor H. Kent Baker, CAS/MS ’79, SOE/PhD ’83, MA ’84, PhD ’89. Even as a tenured faculty member, Professor Baker continued to earn degrees in education to refine his skills in the classroom and master his craft as an educator. A reflection on his own journey as a lifelong learner and in hopes that the scholarship will support others similarly called to education as a field, he included graduate student scholarship support as a component of this gift.
"Being selected as the first recipient of the Baker Family Scholarship was truly an honor," Reyes said. "It meant that others saw potential in me and believed in what I could accomplish. The scholarship is more than financial support—it has given me confidence and encouraged me to keep working hard toward my goals."
For Reyes, the scholarship represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. As the first recipient, she hopes to set a strong example for future scholars while continuing to advocate for students whose voices are often overlooked.
At the Baker School, Reyes plans to examine how higher education policies—particularly in-state tuition policies for undocumented students—influence college access, persistence, and long-term success. She hopes her research will help institutions develop policies and practices that foster belonging while improving educational outcomes.
As I begin this next chapter, I want to continue helping students see that higher education is possible and that they belong in these spaces.
Her aspirations reflect the Baker School's commitment to preparing leaders who combine scholarship with action. By bringing together professional expertise, personal experience, and a passion for educational equity, Reyes joins a community dedicated to advancing opportunity through research, policy, and practice.
As the first Baker Scholarship recipient, she is helping define what the award represents: leadership driven by purpose, scholarship grounded in experience, and a commitment to expanding educational opportunity for future generations.