Posted on August 21, 2025 by Katelyn Juarez
A research team from the UTSA Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies visited the Texas Supreme Court for a rare, hands-on learning experience with Justice Rebecca Huddle.
Dr. Claudia Garcia-Louis and her research team with Justice Rebecca Huddle.
In March, a research team from the UTSA Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (ELPS) had the unique opportunity to visit the Texas Supreme Court, where they met directly with Justice Rebecca Huddle in what became a transformative educational experience.
Led by Claudia García-Louis, associate professor in the UTSA ELPS department, the team includes master’s and doctoral students, alumni, and community members. Their research focuses on interdisciplinary issues tied to LatinX identity development, public policy, and access to higher education. Their overarching goal is to explore how historically overlooked student populations navigate, experience and engage with higher education systems in the United States.
During their visit, the group spent the day exploring the Supreme Court chambers, engaging in conversations about judicial processes and how policy intersects with higher education, specifically public higher education. Justice Huddle also shared her own inspiring journey as a first-generation student, a story that resonated deeply with many team members. She even allowed the group to try on her judicial robe, offering a symbolic and personal touch to the experience.
“This was truly an invaluable experience for all of us,” said García-Louis. “We were able to see how policy intersects with higher education in ways most students never get to witness.
Community member Mona Aldana-Ramirez found the visit particularly enlightening. “We were in the same rooms that they have these great conversations about the law and justice, it was very insightful,” she said.
What made the visit even more remarkable was its rarity. According to Justice Huddle, this group may have been the first composed of higher education students to tour the chambers, which typically hosts law students.
“These are real visceral experiences that emerge when we visit sites of power and importance,” said Garcia-Louis.
The visit also sparked reflections on leadership, representation, and the importance of mentorship among women. “We grow stronger when we see each other as allies, not rivals,” said Brenda Rivera, current doctoral student in the ELPS department. “If you are doing something and you know someone else wants to do it, you can support them. Academia is really competitive, so we need to keep building a supportive team as women.”
Justice Huddle’s personal story also left an impression on Alondra Lerma ’24. “It took her some time to be where she is, and she made a lot of sacrifices,” said Lerma. “There’s always struggle, persistence, and a lot of strength to get to where you want to be.”
Experiences like this one, though rare, leave a powerful impact. “I wish I had a professor like Dr. García-Louis when I was an undergrad, or even in grad school, who would provide us with experiences like this,” said Aldana-Ramirez. “It’s an experience that’s not part of the curriculum, but is part of the hidden curriculum.”
— Katelyn Juarez
