Ph.D. Candidate
School of Education
University of California, Irvine
Daniel Garcia is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine. As the son of undocumented Mexican parents and a first-generation college student, his research is informed by firsthand experiences with the rich cultural and practical knowledge that minoritized families cultivate but that often goes unrecognized in educational settings. His scholarship examines how educational institutions can learn from and build upon this knowledge to affirm families as central partners in their children’s personal and academic success. In partnership with Latine families, educators, a community organization, and a school district, his dissertation advances the Family Knowledge Circulation Model, an iterative process of surfacing family expertise, building learning experiences from what families already know and do, and returning that learning in ways that strengthen family agency.
Research Interests: Child Development; Early STEM Education; Funds of Knowledge; Family-Community-School Partnerships; Community-Engaged Research
Dr. Andres Bustamante & Daniel Garcia
UCI President’s Dissertation Year Fellowship (2026—2027)
Highly competitive award that provides a year of funding, tuition support, and professional development opportunities to doctoral candidates in their final year of study so they can focus on completing their dissertations and preparing for academic careers; Award: $65,000.
AERA Minority Dissertation Travel Award (2026–2027)
Competitive national travel award supporting doctoral scholars from underrepresented backgrounds to attend and participate in the 2027 AERA Annual Meeting; Award: $1500.
2026 UCI OCEAN Research-Practice Partnership Dissertation Fellowship (2025-2026)
Fellowship supports dissertation efforts while also strengthening collaboration between researchers, families and communities, organizations, and school districts; Award: $2000.
2025 Next Generation of Family Math Researchers Dissertation Fellowship (2025 - 2027)
Fellowship supports early-career scholars through mentorship, funding, and opportunities to develop and share practitioner-focused tools that build on math learning in everyday family life; Award: $9000.
Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program (2022 - 2027)
A competitive program supporting doctoral students aspiring to become California State University (CSU) faculty, offering mentorship, professional development, and financial assistance to foster a diverse and qualified faculty pool within the CSU system; Award: $30,000.
UC Irvine Diversity Recruitment Fellowship (2022 - 2023)
Nominated by School of Education faculty for established academic record and accomplishments; Award: $5000.
2022 - 2027 (Expected)
University of California, Irvine (Irvine, CA)
Ph.D., Educational Policy and Social Context
Dissertation Chair and Mentor: Andres Bustamante, Ph.D.
2022 - 2025
University of California, Irvine (Irvine, CA)
M.A., Education
2020 - 2022
California State University, Northridge (Northridge, CA)
M.A., Psychological Science (With Distinction)
Thesis Advisor and Mentor: Gabriela Chavira, Ph.D.
2015 - 2019
University of California, San Diego (La Jolla, CA)
B.S., Social Psychology
May 19th, 2022 - CSUN Graduation Ceremony
Dr. Gabriela Chavira (left) & Daniel Garcia (right)
June 15th, 2019 -
UCSD Graduation Ceremony
