Navigating the Great Recession: Immigrant Families' Stories of Resilience

Eunai Shrake, PhD is Professor Emeritus of Asian American Studies at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She earned a BA and MA from Presbyterian College, a Master of Theology (ThM) from Austin Presbyterian Seminary, and a PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles. During her tenure at CSUN, Dr. Shrake taught courses in Asian American Studies, contributing to scholarship and education on the histories, cultures, and experiences of Asian American communities. 

Ana Sánchez-Muñoz, PhD is a linguist and professor specializing in Hispanic linguistics, bilingualism, and language acquisition. Originally from Spain, she earned a BA in Philology from the University of Salamanca and a PhD in Hispanic Linguistics from the University of Southern California. Her research focuses on language variation and change, bilingualism, language contact, and the development and maintenance of Spanish among heritage speakers in the United States.

Dr. Sánchez-Muñoz is an assistant professor in the Department of Chicana/o Studies and a faculty member in the Linguistics Program at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Her teaching and research examine Spanish-English language contact, heritage language development, and bilingual language acquisition, with an emphasis on how Spanish is learned, used, and maintained within multilingual communities.

Tracy Lachica Buenavista, PhD is a scholar of Asian American Studies whose research focuses on race and racism, educational equity, and the experiences of Pilipina/o and other underserved communities of color in the United States. She earned a BA in Biology with a minor in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, an MA in Asian American Studies from San Francisco State University, and a PhD in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Buenavista is an assistant professor in the Department of Asian American Studies at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). Her teaching and research examine educational access, social justice, systemic inequality, and the ways race and public policy shape educational opportunities and outcomes for historically marginalized communities.

Gina Masequesmay, PhD is a Professor and former Chair of the Department of Asian American Studies at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She earned her undergraduate degree from Pomona College and a PhD in Sociology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her teaching and research focus on Asian American studies, immigration, race and racism, gender, sexuality, queer studies, and Vietnamese American experiences, with particular emphasis on the intersections of race, class, gender, sexuality, and disability.

Dr. Masequesmay's scholarship includes Vietnamese American identity, entrepreneurship, LGBTQ+ communities, critical pedagogy, and social justice. She has co-edited works on Asian American sexualities, contributed to research on race and disability, and co-founded the CSUN Positive Space Program and Ally Project to support LGBTQ+ students. Her work also incorporates mindfulness and Buddhist psychology into education, reflecting her broader interest in healing, community well-being, and inclusive teaching practices.