Soua Xiong, Ph.D., (he/him/his) is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department
of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation and Coordinator of the Student Affairs and
College Counseling program at California State University, Fresno. He is a past President
of the California College Personnel Association, the California state chapter of ACPA-College
Student Educators International. He was selected as one of 15 Emerging Scholars by
Diverse: Issues in Higher Education who represent the future of the academy in 2021 and is a recipient of the Early Career
Award from the AERA Research on the Education of Asian Pacific Americans SIG for his research and scholarly contributions that have had a significant impact on
our understanding of Asian Americans and/or Pacific Islanders in the field of education.
Dr. Xiong's research interests center on the experiences and outcomes of underserved
populations in higher education. Specifically, his research and scholarship has primarily
focused on the engagement and success of Southeast Asian American college students.
He has produced 16 scholarly publications and his research has been cited more than
290 times. Currently, he is using qualitative research methods to explore the factors
that allowed Hmong students to access, thrive, and succeed in higher education.
Dr. Xiong has 18 years of higher education experience as a student affairs practitioner,
researcher, and faculty member. As a student affairs practitioner, he has experience
in outreach and recruitment, advising, and counseling for TRiO and other educational
opportunity programs. Prior to his faculty appointment, he served as a Research Associate
for the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL) at San Diego State University.
Dr. Xiong is a first-generation Hmong American college graduate and the first in his
family to complete a bachelor, master, and doctoral degree. He is a Fresno native
and earned his B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Counseling and Student Services from
California State University, Fresno. He completed his Ph.D. in Higher Education and
Student Affairs from the Joint Doctoral Program between Claremont Graduate University
and San Diego State University.
Research Interests
- Dr. Xiong's research interests center on the experiences and outcomes of underserved
populations in higher education. His research thus far has focused primarily on the engagement and success of Southeast
Asian Americans (SEAA) in higher education: 1) SEAA male students, 2) SEAA community
college students, and 3) Hmong students specifically. He is committed to advancing
anti-deficit research on SEAA student success in higher education.
Current Research
- The Hmong College Student Success Project - This national study is using qualitative methods to explore the lived experiences of Hmong American students
navigating their ways to and through higher education.
Xiong Research Group
- The purpose of this research group is to develop a community of scholars committed
to advancing our knowledge and understanding of Hmong Americans in higher education.
Individuals part of the research team receive research mentorship and participate
in capacity-building activities to learn the academic research process, become critical
consumers of research and producers of knowledge using asset-based research approaches
and frameworks to elevate and amplify the voices and experiences of Hmong college
students.
Dr. Soua Xiong's
Curricula Vitae
Google Scholar
Selected Publications
Xiong, S. (forthcoming). The role of faculty in faculty-student engagement: Disaggregated
analyses by ethnicity for Southeast Asian American college students. Journal of College Student Development.
Xiong, S. (2021). Beyond providing access to services for Southeast Asian American community college
students: The critical role of providing access to caring and validating agents. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 28(1), 83-98.
Xiong, S., Lorchueya, J., & Lor, D. (2020). Counseling Southeast Asian American male
students: Insights from community college counselors. Journal of Student Affairs, 29, 60-73.
Xiong, S. (2019). Access, use, and efficacy of campus services among Hmong American
community college students. Journal of Applied Research in the Community College, 26(1), 73-88.
Xiong, S., Allen, C., & Wood, J. L. (2016). The role of community college counselors
as validating agents on men of color student success. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 40(6), 558-561.
Xiong, S., & Lam, S. K. Y. (2013). Factors affecting the success of Hmong college
students in America. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 41(2), 132-144.
Xiong, S., & Lee, S. E. (2011). Hmong students in higher education and academic support
programs. Hmong Studies Journal, 12(1), 1-20.