MCC’s Dr. Angel Resto Invited to Contribute to Higher Education Book on Student Belonging

March 2026. Midwestern Career College (MCC) is proud to recognize Dr. Angel Resto, Program Director of Business Programs, for being invited to contribute a chapter to the forthcoming book Advancing the Educative Power of Student Belonging in Higher Education: Voices from College Classrooms.

The volume is being developed through the Rowan University College of Education and centers on themes of care, belonging, inclusion, and the power of student-faculty relationships in higher education.

About the Chapter

Dr. Resto’s chapter is titled “Beyond the Classroom: A Framework for Fostering Belonging and Wellness among Racially and Ethnically Minoritized College Students.” The work is grounded in qualitative research focused on racially and ethnically minoritized students at an urban commuter college and explores how relational pedagogy can support student belonging across multiple instructional settings.

The chapter presents a framework designed to strengthen student belonging and wellness in in-person, hybrid, and online learning environments. Its focus aligns closely with current conversations in higher education about inclusive teaching, student persistence, and the importance of faculty-student relationships in shaping the college experience.

Research Themes

Dr. Resto’s contribution highlights several themes that are increasingly important in higher education and student success research:

• Student belonging: how institutional and classroom relationships influence whether students feel seen, supported, and connected.
• Wellness in learning environments: how care-centered educational models can support student well-being alongside academic performance.
• Inclusive pedagogy: how teaching practices can better serve racially and ethnically minoritized students.
• Flexible instructional design: how belonging can be fostered across traditional, hybrid, and online modalities.

By combining research on belonging with practical considerations for instruction, the chapter contributes to broader discussions about how colleges can create learning environments that are both academically rigorous and deeply supportive.

Scholarship That Supports Student-Centered Education

This invitation reflects Dr. Resto’s ongoing commitment to scholarship that connects higher education research with real-world teaching and learning. His work contributes to an important area of study: how institutions can design educational environments that not only deliver knowledge, but also cultivate connection, trust, and student well-being.

For career-focused institutions and commuter-serving colleges alike, these questions are especially relevant. Belonging, wellness, and meaningful faculty engagement can play a critical role in helping students persist, succeed, and move forward with confidence in their academic and professional goals.

A Reflection from Dr. Resto

“Student belonging is not a secondary feature of education. It shapes how students experience learning, how they understand their place within an institution, and how fully they are able to engage in their own growth. This chapter gave me an opportunity to explore how care-centered, relational teaching can support wellness and connection across different learning environments.”

— Dr. Angel Resto, Program Director of Business Programs, Midwestern Career College

Institutional Context

The forthcoming book is being developed through the Department of Wellness and Inclusive Services in Education within the Rowan University College of Education. Its focus on care, belonging, and inclusive educational practice makes it a strong scholarly fit for Dr. Resto’s chapter and its emphasis on student-centered postsecondary learning environments.

This professional achievement reflects both Dr. Resto’s dedication to academic excellence and MCC’s support for scholarship that advances conversations in higher education, student success, and inclusive teaching.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Angel Resto on this outstanding contribution and for representing Midwestern Career College with distinction.

Publication Details

Chapter Title:
Beyond the Classroom: A Framework for Fostering Belonging and Wellness among Racially and Ethnically Minoritized College Students

Book Title:
Advancing the Educative Power of Student Belonging in Higher Education: Voices from College Classrooms (forthcoming)

Author:
Dr. Angel Resto

Developed Through:
Rowan University College of Education

Institutional Context:
Visit the Rowan University College of Education