Cruz Medina

Cruz Medina is an Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Composition in Santa Clara University's English Department, within the College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on multicultural rhetoric, digital writing, and social justice issues related to race and education. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona, an MFA/MA from Chapman University, and a BA from UC Santa Barbara.

• Ph.D.: Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English (University of Arizona)
• MFA/MA: Creative Writing (Fiction)/English (Chapman University)
• BA: German Language and Literature/English (UC Santa Barbara)

His work interrogates systems of exclusion through projects like Sanctuary: Exclusion, Violence, and Indigenous Migrants in the East Bay, examining Indigenous displacement. He co-edited Racial Shorthand: Coded Discrimination Contested in Social Media and authored Reclaiming Poch@ Pop, critiquing cultural deficiency narratives.

Key publications include analyses of Latinx representation in academia, decolonial pedagogy in multilingual classrooms, and rhetorical studies of hip hop's social justice role. His research bridges critical race theory, digital media, and community-based activism.