SUNY Orange Math Department Chair Kaitlin Curry has published research titled “Reducing Barriers to Higher Education for Undocumented Students,” examining how U.S. court cases and public policies have influenced college access for undocumented students. Her work is featured in the newly released academic volume, “Higher Education and Migration Pathways,” published by Springer Nature through its Palgrave Macmillan imprint.

“I chose the topic based on both its relationship to the Higher Education Law class as well as what was happening and interesting to me at SUNY Orange. The College had just been recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution and received a Title V grant. I started researching cases over the years, specifically 1980 – 2024, as they related to undocumented students and exploring how it related to current events,” Curry explained.

The work reviews U.S. court cases and public policies that have shaped opportunities for undocumented students to access higher education and employment. Drawing on peer-reviewed research and legal analysis, Curry’s work explores how policies such as the DREAM Act and evolving developmental education reforms have expanded educational pathways for historically underrepresented students.

Her research calls for continued attention to policies that expand educational access and support undocumented students as they prepare to enter the workforce.

While pursuing her doctoral studies in community college leadership at Old Dominion University, Curry originally submitted the work as a paper for a higher education law course. After reviewing the project, her professor encouraged her to submit an abstract for consideration in an upcoming edited book on migration and higher education. The proposal was accepted approximately three years ago, and the finished publication was released earlier this year.

“It’s exciting,” Curry said of being published. “But this wasn’t done to be in the spotlight. The goal was to contribute to the research and better understand how legal developments affect access to higher education.”

Curry joined SUNY Orange in the Fall of 2013 and is a resident of Middletown. She is working to complete her doctoral dissertation by the end of the summer. Her research focuses on developmental corequisite English instruction and student success in community colleges.

Looking ahead, Curry said she would welcome future opportunities to publish additional research, potentially including work related to community college innovation and student success initiatives. She recently joined SUNY Orange President, Dr. Kristine Young, Provost Dr. Erika Hackman, AVP Business, Math, Science and Technology Dr. Josh Lavorgna, Donna Avery, professor and past math department chair, and Dr. Christine Leroux, professor and math department assistant chair, in San Antonio, Texas where the College received the coveted 2026 national Bellwether Award in “Instructional Programs and Services” in recognition of its work redesigning math placement and pathways as a method to generate academic momentum for students.

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