Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz

Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz is a Professor at Trinity University in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. She is the first Latina faculty member to achieve full professorship at Trinity, specializing in Chicanx/Latinx and LGBTQ+ studies. Her work bridges Mexican, Chicanx, and Latinx literatures, theater, and gender studies.

• Ph.D. in Literature from UC San Diego
• Advocate for marginalized communities through interdisciplinary teaching
• Founder of Global Latinx Studies major and Latinx Leadership Institute

Her research focuses on borderlands culture, queer narratives, and transnational Mexican studies. She has received Trinity’s highest service award and multiple Mellon research grants. Her publications and conferences emphasize LGBTQ+ Chicanx identity, undocumented experiences, and performance as activism. She mentors under McNair Scholars and Alvarez Internship programs, while leading committees for MALCS and AJAAS conferences. Key community roles include Board of Directors at Jump-Start Performance Company and Esperanza Peace Center collaborations.