OVER THE IVY WALL: Latino Male Achievers Nurturing Cultural Wealth at a Highly Selective Predominantly White Institution

Two decades have passed since Gándara published Over the Ivy Walls, a seminal study on high-achieving Latina/o students who defied the odds by earning terminal degrees at selective postsecondary institutions. This chapter explains how Latino males possess, utilize, and nurture various forms of capital reflected in Yosso’s community cultural wealth (CCW) framework to achieve positive outcomes during college. To be more specific, it illuminates how participation in Latino-based student organizations nurtures cultural wealth among Latino male achievers at a highly selective PWI. By focusing on factors that contribute to students’ success, the accounts offered by participants seek to advance what is known about Latino male collegians. More importantly, the findings presented in this chapter are intended to inform policies and practices that enhance the educational outcomes achieved by Latino males within higher education.