Reyan Warren

Reyan Warren is a doctoral student in the Social Justice in Education program at the University of San Diego and the current President of the AACTE Holmes Scholars Program. A proud graduate of Victor Valley College, she brings a unique perspective shaped by her journey from community college to doctoral study. Her research centers on resilience theory, with a specific focus on how Black girls and women navigate and resist deficit labels in educational spaces. She is pioneering the adaptation of Critical Race Theory to explore resilience and academic excellence among deficit-labeled Black students. As a high school educator and coach, Reyan blends scholarship with practice to foster equity and community empowerment. Her work uplifts the voices of marginalized students, drawing from her lived experiences of multiple communities and a deep commitment to justice. She is passionate about transforming education systems through culturally sustaining, inclusive, and anti-racist approaches.