Alejandro (Trae) Madrigal, III

Trae (he/él) is a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Texas at Austin, where he previously earned B.A.s in Philosophy and Psychology, as well as an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Policy. Born and raised in the Río Grande Valley of South Texas, Trae's experiences growing up through traditional public schools and later teaching in a charter school network inform his overall research agenda to interrogate how hierarchies may be (re)produced through historical and emerging educational policies and reforms. He is especially interested in understanding how these hierarchies shape the understanding, engagement, or resistance of marginalized youth and their communities to U.S. public education, and particularly so for Latine/a/o youth. To that end, Trae draws on interdisciplinary perspectives across critical theory, geography, ethnic studies, and anti-colonial studies that privilege the voices of historically marginalized communities and recognize the complex interplay of historical, social, and political contexts in shaping their experiences with schooling. Trae's background in philosophy additionally influences his view on the importance of uplifting conversation on ways of knowing in and beyond the research process.

Trae currently serves as the Division G Graduate Senior Representative for the American Educational Research Association and as an editorial board member for the Texas Education review.