Martha Gonzalez

Martha Gonzalez serves as Assistant Professor in the Intercollegiate Department of Chicana/o Latina/o Studies at Claremont Colleges, where she integrates her identity as a Chicana artivista (artist/activist) with academic scholarship. Her work bridges musical practice, feminist theory, and community engagement.

Her research centers on Chicana/o Latina/o Studies with specialized focus on feminist music theory, transborder cultural practices, and community-based activism. This interdisciplinary approach emerges directly from her dual role as academic and performing artist, particularly through her work with Grammy Award-winning band Quetzal where she serves as singer/songwriter and percussionist. Her scholarship examines how music functions as both cultural resistance and community organizing tool within East Los Angeles and transnational contexts.

Dr. Gonzalez has received significant recognition including the Fulbright Fellowship (2007-2008) and Ford Fellowship (2012-2013). In 2014, her cultural contributions were honored when her tarima (stomp box) and zapateado shoes were inducted into the National Museum of American History, highlighting the intersection of her artistic practice and scholarly impact.

Her current research includes the manuscript Chicana Artivistas: East Los Angeles Trenches Transborder Tactics, which analyzes how Chicana artists deploy transborder strategies for social change. While specific advising details aren't documented in the source, her community-engaged methodology inherently involves mentorship through artistic collectives and activist networks.