My Publications
Fragile Courage
Casazza’s debut novel Fragile Courage tells the story of Melina who struggles to align her bold dreams with her immigrant family’s expectations and Margot whose family expects nothing short of noteworthy accomplishments from their only child. At first resisting each other, their paths converge and together they discover the real meaning of courage. Its focus on cultural conflict and family tension is rich with ideas for contemporary book club discussions.
“Martha captures the spirit and vibrancy of our community in the most authentic, inspiring and thought provoking manner possible. By telling stories of struggle, perserverance and triumph, she breathes life into everyday joy human beings have at their fingertips when we listen to and value our life stories.” -Juan Salgado, M.U.P. President and CEO, Instituto del Progreso Latino
Dreaming Forward
The Healing Power of Mexico: 16 Stories of Culture, Community, and Healing
Martha Wrote Chapter 6
“Small Hands Build Cultural Bridges: Starting a Community-Based School”
Set in the vibrant Pacific coastal region of Nayarit and Jalisco, this book brings together diverse voices-healers, mothers, educators, artists, and community leaders-who have each experienced profound transformation through their relationship with Mexico. From Indigenous cosmology and ancestral wisdom to food as medicine, emotional healing, and community care, these stories reveal that healing unfolds through land, community, culture, and connection.
Offers a new model for effective practice that helps learning assistance and developmental education professionals meet diverse student needs, increase accountability, manage resources more effectively, use technology, develop and maintain professional standards, and promote a sense of leadership and student advocacy.
Learning Assistance and Developmental Education: A Guide for Effective Practice
Student Voices: We Believe in You
We are surrounded by voices, but how often do we actually stop and listen to the stories they have to tell? Martha E.Casazza and Sharon L. Silverman have been listening to the stories of students for the past five years, and they share how high achievers have overcome obstacles. Throughout the interviews, students told the authors having someone believe in them was key to their success. Find out what else made a difference in their lives by listening closely to Student Voices.
Learning and Development: Making Connections to Enhance Teaching
Comprehensive yet easy to follow, Learning and Development is designed to help faculty, student affairs professionals, and other educators understand how students learn and what they can do to foster student achievement. Sharon Silverman and Martha Casazza reveal how diverse developmental needs--such as lack of self-esteem or cultural alienation--can be at the root of a student's learning difficulties.
Access, Opportunity, and Success: Keeping the Promise of Higher Education
Behind the hallowed walls of higher education are students who did not grow up expecting to attend college, students who walked through open doors not knowing what to expect on the other side. For some, these open doors became revolving doors, and they simply gave up. For many others, however, there were unexpected successes, successes that included more than academic accomplishments. These people came through the system with an increased sense of self-confidence that empowered them in the world beyond college.
