My name is Isabel Rangel, and I’ve dedicated my life to education—not only as a teacher, mentor, and advocate—but as someone who understands firsthand the transformative power of opportunity and the barriers that often stand in its way. I am a proud first-generation Latina, the daughter of immigrant parents, a single mother, and now—against all odds—a Doctoral Student. Today, I’m humbly asking for your support as I pursue my Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

This doctorate represents more than a degree. It’s a commitment to fight for the students, families, and communities too often left behind. My passion is rooted in my lived experience and the many roles I’ve served: from teaching preschoolers the foundations of literacy and social-emotional learning, to guiding undocumented and first-generation students at San José State through the maze of higher education. Every step of the way, I’ve witnessed how equity in education isn’t a given—it must be built.

Over the years, I’ve worked tirelessly in classrooms, research initiatives, and empowering community leadership programs with coalitions across the Silicon Valley, and the creation of the UndocuSpartan Resource Center. I’ve advocated for undocumented students, created support networks, launched scholarships, and organized mental health workshops that address generational trauma. These experiences have not only shaped who I am—they fuel the leader I aim to become.

I am also the first in my family to walk this path, and I walk it not just for myself, but for every student I’ve supported, every child I’ve taught to read, and every community I’ve fought to empower. But as I embark on this doctoral journey, the cost is a significant barrier. Despite applying for scholarships, and budgeting carefully, the financial demands—tuition, books, fees, living cost and childcare—exceed what I can manage alone.

That’s why I’m turning to my community.

Every dollar you contribute is not just a donation—it’s an investment. It is a powerful statement that you believe in the power of women of color, of immigrant stories, of educational equity, and of dreams that don’t stop when the road gets hard. With your help, I will not only earn my doctorate, but I will amplify the voices of students who have been historically silenced, mentor the next generation of scholars and leaders, and drive systemic change from within our educational institutions.

If you believe in the power of education, in equity, in lifting up those who lead with heart—please consider supporting my journey. Whether it's $5 or $500, every bit helps me get closer to the finish line.

Thank you for believing in me, in this mission, and in what we can build—together.

With deep gratitude,

Future Doctora

Isabel Rangel