Ernesto Chavez

Dr. Ernesto Chavez is a Professor of History at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and the Department of History. His research focuses on Chicano/a, Latino/a, and Borderlands History, particularly examining race, class, and sexuality in the Mexican American and Latino experience. He is the author of seminal works like Mi Raza Primero!: Nationalism, Identity, and Insurgency in the Chicano Movement in Los Angeles, 1966-1978 and The US War With Mexico: A Brief History with Documents. Currently, he is completing a critical biography of silent film actor Ramón Novarro titled Crossing the Boundaries of Race, Religion, and Desire: The Life of Ramón Novarro. His work appears in journals such as The Journal of the History of Sexuality and American Quarterly.

Dr. Chavez teaches courses on Borderlands History, Mexican American-Chicanx History, and Film History. He is actively involved in UTEP's Center for History Teaching and Learning and contributes to initiatives like History Day. His research bridges academic scholarship with public engagement, emphasizing the intersections of culture, politics, and identity in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.

His publications span topics from the Chicano Movement to transnational migration, with a focus on deconstructing racial and gendered narratives in historical contexts. He has also contributed to historiographical debates about Latino Studies and the methodology of cultural history. Despite not explicitly mentioned in the text, his work suggests involvement in interdisciplinary projects and community outreach efforts related to border studies.