Mary Beltrán

Mary Beltrán is a Professor of Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas at Austin's Moody College of Communication, with faculty affiliate appointments in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies. Her research examines U.S. Latina and Latinx media representation, diversity initiatives in film/television industries, and mixed-race portrayals in American media culture through interdisciplinary lenses.

Her scholarship bridges television/film studies, Latina/o studies, critical race theory, and gender/sexuality frameworks. Key publications include the 2022 book Latino TV: A History (NYU Press), which analyzes Latina/o narratives from The Cisco Kid to Vida using archival research and industry interviews, and Latina/o Stars in U.S. Eyes (2009). Recent works explore Latinas in action cinema, border representations in the Fast & Furious franchise, and multiculturalism in dance films.

Dr. Beltrán founded and directed the Latino Media Arts & Studies program (2017-2020), now serves as faculty advisor for its undergraduate minor, and acts as Graduate Advisor for Media Studies—mentoring students while investigating cultural citizenship, self-representation, and social hierarchies in media production.