Hill College faculty member Dr. Ashleigh Maldonado presents at the American Educational Research Association’s 2025 annual conference

  Ashlee Ferguson
  Wednesday, September 3, 2025 3:08 PM
  Academics

Hillsboro, TX

This April, Hill College Instructor & Field Placement Coordinator of Education Dr. Ashleigh Maldonado represented Hill College at the American Educational Research Association (AERA) by giving two presentations at AERA’s annual conference.  

Founded in 1916, the American Educational Research Association (AERA) is a national research society that strives to advance knowledge about education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good.  

Each year, AERA hosts their annual meeting, the world’s largest gathering of education researchers and a showcase for groundbreaking, innovative studies in an array of areas, providing a dynamic experience with opportunities to learn from prominent scholars, discover the latest research, engage in stimulating conversations, and foster professional relationships.  

Dr. Maldonado’s presentations at the April meeting focused on teacher preparedness and the challenges facing teachers when discussing difficult subject matter, and understanding trigger warnings as they relate to upsetting, disturbing, or nontraditional content addressed in the classroom.  

“We all know how important teachers are, but we tend to forget the importance of preparing future educators. My research on these topics reinforces the benefits of improving teacher education to meet the challenges of an increasingly diverse world. I’m so grateful to Hill College for giving me the time, space, and resources to support future teachers,” said Dr. Maldonado.   

The first presentation, “I Have Two Master’s Degrees,” was a multi-case study addressing the increasing challenges faced by teachers when assigned readings that are potential impediments for students due to sensitive and/or controversial subject matter. In addition to presenting the research involved in the study, the talk provided key recommendations for educators and administrators in how to effectively enhance their programs to address topics related to challenging material in the classroom. 

The second presentation, “Triggered or Ignored: Examining Student Understandings of and Experiences with Trigger Warnings in Higher Education,” was a joint study by Dr. Maldonado and Dr. Tony Talbert, professor of social/cultural studies education and qualitative research in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction in the School of Education at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.   

The focus of the study was to explore students’ (specifically college students) perceptions of trigger warnings and to determine the source of students’ desires to be aware of these warnings, including certain aspects of the curriculum and/or students’ perceptions of their course instructors. Findings from the study suggested that more attention should be given to how student identity is implicated and impacted by classroom curriculum and how instructors present their perspective on trigger warnings, acknowledging the power structures within institutions, and how to use warnings to challenge structural norms while still participating in the confines of the system. 

“Dr. Ashleigh Maldonado is an innovative and student-centered professional who consistently goes above and beyond in her role as an education program faculty member and a field placement coordinator. Her dedication to student completion and academic success is evident in the way she intentionally designs her courses to meet the evolving needs of our students who plan to be future educators. She has also represented Hill College at multiple conferences, sharing practical, forward-thinking approaches to course and program design,” said Dean of Arts & Humanities Nancy McKenzie. 

Dr. Maldonado joined Hill College in 2023 having completed her doctorate in philosophy of education from Baylor University. She has over 10 years’ experience in K–12 education and has been working in higher education since 2019.  

For more information on Hill College and the Education Program, visit the Arts & Humanities Pathway at https://www.hillcollege.edu.