University of Utah Associate Professor Leandra Hernández is co-editing a new scholarly volume that examines the intersection of queer, woman of color, and critical approaches to feminist mentorship and pedagogy in higher education. The work seeks to address a shortage of feminist mentorship within communication and gender studies through diverse academic lenses.
Redefining Academic Mentorship
The upcoming book, titled Queer, Women of Color, and Critical Approaches to Feminist Mentorship and Pedagogy, is part of the Transformations: Womanist, Feminist, and Indigenous Studies series. According to the University of Illinois Press, the volume was scheduled for release on Sept. 9, 2025, and features contributions from a diverse group of scholars ranging from undergraduate students to senior academics.
Scholarly Perspectives on Pedagogy
The anthology is structured to challenge traditional forms of mentorship by utilizing Black feminist, Chicana feminist, and queer lenses. The first section of the book focuses on the unique and situated experiences of mentorship within academia. These essays explore various mentorship dynamics, including relationships between faculty members, and interactions between faculty and both undergraduate and graduate students. Some contributors describe mentorship relationships that evolve into familial bonds.
Future of Feminist Mentorship
The second section of the text interrogates existing mentoring practices by problematizing current methods and offering new formats and possibilities for academic relationships. The book concludes by reflecting on the future of feminist mentorship in the context of contemporary debates and concerns currently facing higher education institutions.
Academic Background and Research
Leandra Hernández, who serves as an Associate Professor and the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Communication at the University of Utah, specializes in queer critical and feminist health and media studies. Her research focuses on applying praxis to teaching, research, and service, with a specific emphasis on Latina/o/x/e cultural health experiences and media representations. Her work explores these themes within the contexts of reproductive justice, gendered violence, and social media.
Published Scholarship
Hernández's research has been published in numerous academic journals, including Health Communication, Communication Education, Frontiers in Communication, Communication Teacher, and Journal of Applied Communication Research. She has also contributed to publications such as Women's Studies in Communication, Journal of Media and Religion, Communication Research, QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking, and Departures in Critical Qualitative Research.
Awards and Education
In recognition of her contributions to the field, Hernández received the 2024 National Communication Association Women's Caucus Francine Merritt award. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the lives of women in communication through advocacy, scholarship, pedagogy, service, and mentorship. Her academic background includes a PhD in Communication from Texas A&M University, an MA in Communication from the University of Houston, and a BA in Communication from the University of St. Thomas.
Collaborative Editorial Efforts
The new volume is co-edited by Hernández alongside Stevie M. Munz, an associate professor of communication at Utah Valley University, and Jessica Pauly, an adjunct professor of communication at Northeastern University. The book is expected to serve as a necessary intervention in the theories and practices of feminist mentorship, providing a framework for rethinking and reimagining academic guidance through critical lenses.
