Life kept getting in the way of Sandee Roberts' higher education: her family didn't think girls should go to college; she needed to work to support her son as a single mom; she was diagnosed with cancer. She was in her fifties, in 2000, when she went back to school to earn her bachelor degree. Now a doctoral candidate in the higher education administration program at Barry University (which happens to be where I teach), she's determined to make it easier for the women who follow by studying the barriers that stand in the way of women -- especially Latina women -- pursuing higher education.

As a cancer survivor, you're on the board of your local American Cancer Society and you help organize the Relay for Life in your neighborhood. Cancer seems like a lot to focus on. Why focus on education?

Education is key. You have to be educated in order to move up. Everybody needs an education. You can't save everyone, but you can save whoever you can.

Why did you decide to write your dissertation about Latina women going back to school?

This all started when I asked myself, "I wonder how many other people have made this journey." I wanted to address what happened to me, to tell my story.

But you're an American who happened to grow up in Latin America, where your father worked. So, why Latinas?

When I reviewed the literature, I found very little information about non-traditional students and even less about Hispanic women in higher education. I wanted to be able to tell other people's stories so they'll know that they're not alone. I can relate a lot to what they're going through, even though we're not on the same playing field.

How have the experiences of the Latinas you surveyed differed from your own?

I didn't ask one question about racism, yet every single woman mentioned discrimination and racism. Education for Hispanic people is key because you may be told that you're not qualified for a certain job because you don't have a degree.

What did you find when you surveyed non-traditional Latina students?

Even with everything against them, they were still positive. These women personify "self-efficacy": the theory that if you believe you can do something, then you can do it.

What kind of response have you had to your research?

I presented at a conference on immigration issues. Someone in the audience asked: "Why are you focused on these people?" I asked them who they want paying taxes to care for them in their old age: someone flipping burgers or someone who has had an education?