Deon Turner is a first-generation student pursuing a Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from The University of Texas at San Antonio while also serving as a graduate assistant for Campus Recreation on this campus. Completing a legal internship with the Migrant Center for Human Rights, Turner engaged with refugees and asylum-seekers longing for security and liberty from fear. Experiencing a congressional internship for U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), he encountered how federal, state, and local legislation directly impacts a constituency. As an AfroLatino, Turner performs phenomenological qualitative research of AfroLatinx students and faculty navigating the complexities of higher education. His compassion for others motivates a critical lens and social-justice pedagogy, inspiring his mission to affect positive change in today's society.