Lorena Muñoz

Lorena Muñoz serves as Associate Dean of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging—Academic Affairs and Professor of Global Studies at California Lutheran University.

Her educational background includes:

• A.A. in Political Science from San Diego City College (1994)
• B.A. in Political Science from University of St. Thomas (1997)
• M.A. in Geography and Urban Studies from Temple University (2000), with thesis: Latinas and HIV Prevention: Evaluation of a Gender Based HIV Integrative Education Model
• Ph.D. in Geography from University of Southern California (2008), with dissertation: Tamales…Elotes…Champurrado: The Production of Latino Vending Street-Scapes in Los Angeles

Her research critically examines intersections of identity, space, and economy through lenses of Ethnic Studies, Latinx Studies, and Queer Geographies. She investigates informal economies, immigration-labor dynamics, and spatial manifestations of sexuality within Latinx communities, with strong connections to Latin American Studies frameworks.

As Associate Dean of Equity, Inclusion and Belonging—Academic Affairs, she leads institutional initiatives advancing diversity while maintaining active scholarship in social geography. Her work bridges theoretical frameworks with community-engaged research on marginalized urban economies and spatial justice.