Find Academic Supervisors

Michelle A. Holling, Ph.D. is a Full Professor of Communication at California State University San Marcos, where she also serves as Director of Ethnic Studies. She joined the Department of Communication at CSUSM in 2007 and has held significant leadership roles including Director of the Ethnic Studies Program, Chair of the Communication Department, and member of the Ethnic Studies Steering Committee. Dr. Holling earned her interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Communication from Arizona State University and her M.A. and B.A. in Communication from San Francisco State University. Her academic journey has been marked by leadership and scholarly excellence within the field of communication studies with a focus on ethnic and gender perspectives. Her research expertise centers on Chican@-Latin@ vernacular discourse; testimonio and gendered violence; and womyn of color, academe, and intersectional microaggressions. Dr. Holling's work bridges critical race theory, gender studies, and communication scholarship, examining how marginalized communities navigate systems of power through discourse and performance. She has developed innovative courses including COMM 405, Feminist Rhetorics and COMM 485, Chican@s-Latin@s in Film & TV. Dr. Holling's scholarly contributions demonstrate a consistent focus on intersectional approaches to communication, with particular attention to Latin@ experiences, gendered violence, and critical race perspectives. Her work often examines how marginalized communities use discourse to resist oppression and create liberatory spaces. Outstanding Article Award (2022) from Feminist Gender Studies Division of NCA Outstanding Book Chapter Award (2021) from Latino/a Communication Studies Division of NCA Cordova-Puchot Scholar of the Year Award (2009) from Latino/a Communication Studies Division of NCA B. Aubrey Fisher Outstanding Journal Article (2007) from Western States Communication Association Dr. Holling has been actively involved in professional organizations, founding the Communication, Identities, and Difference interest group in the Western States Communication Association (WSCA), where she served as President (2017-2018) and Immediate Past President (2018-2019). She was also President of the Organization for Research on Women and Communication (2007-2010). Her leadership extends to editorial work, including co-editing "Race(ing) Intercultural Communication: Racial Logics in a Colorblind Era" (2016) and "Latina/o Discourse in Vernacular Spaces: Somos de Una Voz?" (2011).

• Chican@-Latin@ vernacular discourse
• testimonio and gendered violence
• womyn of color, academe, and intersectional microaggressions
• +5 more

Natalia Villanueva-Nieves is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at Sonoma State University. Her interdisciplinary scholarship bridges literary studies, affect theory, and digital humanities, with a focus on Latinx, Chicanx, Central American, and Caribbean expressive cultures. Her academic background includes a doctoral degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a master’s in Comparative Literary Studies from Utrecht University. Dr. Villanueva-Nieves' research explores Latinx emotional geographies, transnational feminisms, hemispheric race studies, and digital storytelling. She investigates how affect, space, and racialization intersect in Latina narratives, particularly through relational and hemispheric frameworks. Her work emphasizes collective archives of care and hope in Latinx testimonial writing. Her recent publications reflect a strong trend toward interdisciplinary and public-facing scholarship, combining literary analysis with digital tools and social justice engagement. The articles span themes such as affective spaces, digital archives, transnational feminisms, and geocritical approaches to Latinx literature. Her scholarly work has appeared in Chiricú Journal , Ex-Centric Narratives Journal , Zócalo Public Square , American National Biography , Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies , and edited volumes from UNAM and the University of Alcalá de Henares. Dr. Villanueva-Nieves is currently developing a digital monograph that uses interactive maps and digital storytelling to present Latinx testimonial writing as living archives. She is also completing her book The True Colors of Feeling Brown: Affect and Space in Latina Narratives , under contract with Palgrave in the Geocriticism and Spatial Literary Studies series.

• Latinx Literatures
• Chicanx Studies
• Central American and Caribbean Affect
• +7 more

Robert Gutierrez-Perez, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Critical/Cultural Studies in Communication at the Department of Communication and Media Studies, California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM). He earned his doctorate from the University of Denver in 2016 and specializes in examining intersectional power dynamics through performance studies approaches grounded in decolonial and indigenous theories. His research focuses on queer of color communication, Latina/o/x cultural studies, and Anzaldúan theory. Gutierrez-Perez centers subaltern and non-Western knowledge systems in his work, particularly exploring Jotería Communication Studies—the communicative practices of nonheteronormative mestizas/os. His scholarship employs cuentos, pláticas, chismé, testimonio, mitos, and consejos as decolonial methods for knowledge production. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on decolonial approaches to queer of color worldmaking, with particular attention to Anzaldúan theory and borderlands epistemology. His work bridges communication studies with Chicana feminist thought, creating innovative frameworks for understanding intersectional resistance and cultural survival. Award-winning editor of 'This Bridge We Call Communication: Anzaldúan Approaches to Theory, Method, and Praxis' Editor of the Performance & Pedagogy recurring series in 'Liminalities: A Journal of Performance Studies' Gutierrez-Perez's scholarly contributions include his book 'Jotería Communication Studies: Narrating Theories of Resistance,' which provides a cultural map highlighting reflexivity, cultural/queer nuances, and decolonial acts of resistance within Jotería communities. His work represents a significant contribution to queer of color critique and decolonial communication studies.

• Queer of color communication
• Critical/Cultural communication studies
• Latina/o/x communication and culture
• +7 more

Mónica González Ybarra is an Assistant Professor in both the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the Department of Latina/Latino Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on centering Chicanx/Latinx communities' linguistic and cultural knowledge in educational spaces, particularly through community-based pedagogies and youth participatory action research. She earned her B.A. in Latina/Latino Studies and Spanish from the University of Illinois (2011), M.A. from the University of Utah (2013), and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder (2018). Dr. González Ybarra’s work emphasizes the intersection of education, race, and language, advocating for transformative educational practices that honor students' home and community knowledge. Her research explores topics such as translanguaging, resistant pedagogies, and the role of 'chisme' (gossip) as a literacy tool for marginalized girls. She has received awards including the Cultivating New Voices Fellowship (NCTE) and AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship. Awards: Cultivating New Voices Fellow (NCTE), AERA Minority Dissertation Fellowship Research Focus: Bilingual education, sociopolitical navigation, community literacies Teaching: Prepares bilingual teachers to integrate homeplace knowledge into curricula Her recent publications analyze Latinx youth agency, linguistic expertise, and feminist pedagogies, with a focus on creating equitable educational spaces for communities of color. She collaborates with after-school programs and pre-service teachers to reimagine literacy and leadership frameworks.

• Bilingual Education
• Sociopolitical Education
• Community-Based Learning
• +3 more

Laura E. Pérez is a Professor in the Chicanx and Latinx Studies Program and Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She serves as Chair of the Latinx Research Center and is a core faculty member in the doctoral program in Performance Studies and the Department of Women’s Studies. Ph.D. in Romance Languages & Literatures, Harvard University B.A./M.A. Joint Degree, Romance Languages & Literatures, University of Chicago Exchange Scholar, Stanford University Summer Courses, Universidad de Salamanca Her research intersects decolonial aesthetics, feminist and queer theory, and spiritualities within Chicanx/Latinx and Indigenous cultural practices. She has curated significant Latina/o performance art exhibitions and authored foundational texts in Chicana art criticism. Pérez’s recent work explores coalitions between U.S. women of color feminist thought and Latin American decolonial ethics. In 2023, she is co-curating a major retrospective of Amalia Mesa-Bains at the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive. Her 2020 publication Eros Ideologies received a National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies Book Award Honorable Mention. College Art Association’s Wyeth Foundation for American Art Publishing Grant (2020) Hellman Faculty Fellows Award Mellon Fellowships Susan B. Anthony Post Doctoral Fellowship Pérez has mentored graduate students in Ethnic Studies and taught courses spanning decolonial theory, racialization, spirituality in the arts, and U.S. women of color feminist thought.

• Chicanx and Latinx Feminist Art
• Decolonial Aesthetics
• Decolonial Spiritualities
• +5 more

Karleen Pendleton Jiménez is a Professor of Education, Gender, and Social Justice at Trent University. Her interdisciplinary work bridges education, gender studies, and creative writing, focusing on queer and feminist pedagogies, Chicana identity, and fat studies. She is recognized for her Lambda Literary Award-nominated books, including Are You a Boy or a Girl? and How to Get a Girl Pregnant , as well as her award-winning animated film Tomboy . Her research explores sociocultural influences on learning, LGBTQ+ youth identities, and transgressive gender expression in schools. Key Awards: Vice Versa Awards for Excellence, American Library Association Recognition Recent Work: Digital storytelling projects on queer embodiment, ecojustice education, and trans/fat body studies Teaching: Courses on gender, sexuality, and education, including Transgender Feminisms and Community Learning: Relationships, Creativity, Action Her films and creative works address intersectional identities, challenging norms around gender, race, and family. She advocates for inclusive education through narrative and embodied research methodologies.

• Gender Studies
• Sexuality Studies
• Education
• +4 more

Kim Warren is Associate Professor of History at the University of Kansas and currently serves as Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. Her scholarship focuses on intersections of United States history , African Diaspora identity , and gender/racial analysis in educational contexts. Ph.D. and M.A. from Stanford University B.A. from Yale University Research spans Black and Native American education in Kansas, citizenship studies , and transnational feminist movements . Notable works include The Quest for Citizenship (2010) and co-editorship of Unequal Sisters (5th ed., 2023). Recent publications analyze Mary McLeod Bethune 's legacy and Indigenous feminist methodologies . Articles address colonial memory (Atlantic slave trade, Pacific nuclear testing), gendered labor (enslaved wet nurses, Japanese immigrant farm work), and transnational activism (Puerto Rican decolonization, Black Panther gender equity). Spencer Foundation Grant Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Fulbright's Danish Distinguished Chair (2015) American Philosophical Society Support Teaches U.S. Women's History , Indigenous history , and 19th century gender studies . Primary advisor for honors undergraduates and Ph.D. candidates in History. Courses include History of Women in America , Graduate Colloquia on Gender History , and Indigenous Peoples of North America .

• United States History
• African American and Native American Education
• Women's History
• +4 more

Margaret Hunter is a Professor in the Sociology Department at Santa Clara University’s College of Arts and Sciences, specializing in race, gender, and inequality. She serves as Strategic Advisor to the Dean for Faculty DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) Initiatives, reflecting her commitment to equity in academic leadership. Her research focuses on colorism , racial identity , skin tone bias , and hip-hop culture , with recent work examining student belonging at HBCUs and intergenerational racial justice efforts. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications highlights trends in racial stratification , gender dynamics , and cultural resistance , particularly in African American and Chicana/o/Latina/o communities. While no formal awards are listed in the provided data, her DEI advisory role and extensive publications underscore her influence in sociological discourse. She has explored topics like racial capital , desegregation policies , and feminist pedagogy , bridging academic research with practical equity initiatives.

• Colorism
• Race and Ethnicity Studies
• Gender and Social Stratification
• +4 more

Marivel Danielson is an Associate Professor in the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University. Her work focuses on intersections of Chicana/Latina literature, queer theory, and border studies. She examines topics like transborder identities, queer care practices, and Anzaldúan border theory through literary analysis and cultural critique. Her research explores how Chicana and Latina authors reimagine maternalhood, queer kinship, and bodily autonomy through life writing and performance. She has written extensively on queer desire frameworks, rasquache resistance in popular culture, and the application of autohisteoría methodology in Chicana studies. Publications span from 2004 to 2024, with recent emphasis on parenting narratives and queer futurity. While no awards are explicitly listed, her work demonstrates significant contributions to transnational Latina/o queer studies.

• Chicana/Latina Literature
• Queer Theory
• Border Studies
• +3 more

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.

• Chicanx and Mexican Literatures and Cultures
• U.S. Latinx Cultural Studies
• Theater and Performance Studies
• +5 more

Juanita Díaz-Cotto is a Professor of Sociology at Binghamton University, affiliated with the Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies (LACAS) Program and Women's Studies. She holds a PhD from Columbia University, an MA from the University of Chicago, and a BA from the University of Puerto Rico. Her work bridges theory and practice, emphasizing transformative education. Education: PhD, Columbia University; MA, University of Chicago; BA, University of Puerto Rico Her research focuses on criminal justice systems, gender/sexuality, Latin American history, revolutionary movements, and the experiences of women of color. She has published extensively on topics including Chicana livelihoods, lesbian-feminist movements, and the intersection of ethnicity and state power. Her notable works include CHICANA LIVES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (2006), COMPANERAS: Latina Lesbians (2004), and GENDER, ETHNICITY, AND THE STATE (1996). These publications critically examine systemic inequalities and marginalized communities' resilience. Dr. Díaz-Cotto’s scholarship prioritizes grassroots activism and academic rigor, often collaboratively produced with marginalized voices. She has no listed grants or awards but is recognized for her interdisciplinary approach.

• Criminal Justice
• Gender/Sexuality Studies
• Latin American and Caribbean History
• +5 more

Dr. Micaela J. Díaz-Sánchez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chicana/o and Latina/o Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focuses on performance studies, visual culture, and diaspora studies with an emphasis on Afro-Latina/o and Chicana/Latina feminist perspectives. She holds a B.A. in History from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in Theater and Performance Studies from Stanford University. Her work interrogates intersections of race, gender, and diaspora through performance practices such as son jarocho, bomba, and contemporary theater. Key research areas include decolonial topographies of Latina cultural production, African spiritualities in borderlands literature, and embodied resistance in transnational contexts. She has published in journals like Chicana/Latina Studies and QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking , and is currently completing a book manuscript on Chicana and Mexicana feminist performance. Dr. Díaz-Sánchez's scholarship bridges academic and artistic communities, emphasizing ethnomusicology and dramaturgy. Her research has explored topics ranging from queer spatial practices in Los Angeles to the role of music in Afro-Mexican resistance movements. She maintains active engagement with performance traditions across the Americas, particularly in Mexico and the Caribbean.

• Chicana/o and Latina/o Performance Studies
• Visual Culture and Cultural Studies
• Afro-Latina/o Diaspora Studies
• +3 more

Catherine Marie Davalos serves as Professor of Dance and Director of the Dance Program at Saint Mary's College of California within the School of Liberal Arts. Since developing the program from inception in 1997, she has established comprehensive offerings including traditional undergraduate dance training, the LEAP professional dancer program, and MFA degrees in Dance: Creative Practice and Design and Production. Her nationally recognized leadership culminated in the Saint Mary's College Dance Company's 2010 Kennedy Center performance at the National College Dance Festival. Her academic credentials feature foundational training at California State University, Long Beach: B.A. in Philosophy and Dance (1985) M.F.A. in Dance (1995), honored as "Most Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts" Davalos's research manifests through choreographic practice interrogating Chicana identity, heteronormativity, and feminist perspectives. Her work explores the tensions of being a "Mexican American Princess"—navigating invisibility and visibility as a brown-skinned Californian—while celebrating nonconforming bodies, races, and sexual identities. This scholarship bridges dance history, criticism, and community activism, centering Latina voices through embodied research that challenges dominant cultural narratives. Analysis of her 2017-2018 scholarly outputs reveals a cohesive trajectory in Chicana feminist dance praxis. These works demonstrate sophisticated integration of site-specific performance, cross-cultural collaboration, and social justice frameworks. Key patterns include transnational partnerships (notably with Italy's City of Panicale), community-engaged curation (Radical Acts of Love festival), and theoretical exploration of dance companies as laboratories for intersectional identity work. Her methodology consistently merges artistic creation with critical analysis of gender, race, and immigration. Her distinguished recognition includes: Artist OF NOTE: The Immigrant Issue international selection (2014) Most Outstanding Graduate for the College of the Arts (CSU Long Beach, 1995) Davalos mentors dancers across Saint Mary's undergraduate and graduate programs while securing substantial research funding through competitive grants. Her artistic projects have received significant support including: National Endowment for the Arts grant (2011) for full-evening work "Volver" Zellerbach Family Fund Community Arts Grant (2006) Ongoing sponsorship from William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and Saint Mary's Faculty Development Office As founder of the Davalos Dance Company (1994), she cultivates an artistic ecosystem spanning the Festival of Latin American Contemporary Choreographers (where she serves as founding member), international collaborations with Italian cultural institutions, and Bay Area performance networks including CounterPulse and ODC. This infrastructure actively produces community-focused work praised by The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times while advancing her vision of dance as radical social practice.

• Modern Dance
• Choreography
• Dance History
• +4 more

Martha Gonzalez is an Associate Professor in the Intercollegiate Department of Chicana/o-Latina/o Studies at Scripps College, Claremont, where she also serves as the Director of the Scripps Humanities Institute. A scholar, artist, and activist, she is deeply engaged in public scholarship through music, performance, and community organizing. Her work bridges academia and grassroots movements, particularly through her leadership in the Grammy Award-winning band Quetzal and her role in fostering transnational cultural dialogues. PhD in Feminist Studies (Chicana Studies Emphasis), University of Washington, 2013 BA in Ethnomusicology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1999 Transfer, Pasadena City College, 1990-1993 Her research centers on the intersection of Chicana feminist theory , Chican@ music , transnational musical dialogues , and performance studies . She emphasizes collective songwriting and participatory music as tools for social justice and decolonial praxis. Her scholarly work is deeply informed by her lived experience as a musician and community organizer in East Los Angeles and transnational networks with Jarocho communities in Veracruz, Mexico. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent engagement with themes of cultural resilience, feminist epistemology, and music as testimony. They span ethnographic analysis, critical reviews, and theoretical explorations, demonstrating her interdisciplinary approach across folklore, ethnomusicology, urban studies, and feminist theory. Her work frequently highlights marginalized voices and practices, from street vendors in Boyle Heights to incarcerated women. Her scientific honors include: MacArthur Fellowship (2022) United States Artist (USA) Fellowship (2021) Grammy Award (2013) Fulbright Garcia-Robles Fellowship (2007-2008) Woodrow Wilson Career Enhancement Fellowship Multiple Scripps College research and teaching awards Gonzalez has advised and co-founded several academic and artistic collectives, including Women Who Rock and The Seattle Fandango Project . She has secured research grants from the Mellon Foundation, California Arts Council, and the 5Cs Creativity and Innovation Initiative. Her leadership extends to board roles at Smithsonian Folkways Records and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress . Her personal musical artifacts are housed in the National Museum of American History , underscoring her cultural impact.

• Chicana Feminist Theory
• Chican@ Music
• Transnational Musical Dialogues
• +7 more

Mónica Russel y Rodríguez is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Latina and Latino Studies Program at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from UCLA (1995) and a bachelor's degree from Yale University. Her research focuses on cultural anthropology, Latinx Studies, feminist theory, and borderland studies, with a particular emphasis on Chicana feminist perspectives, mixed-race identities, and Latinx representation in academia and media. She has held leadership roles including Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Associate Dean for Teaching-Track Faculty, and Interim Director of the Latina and Latino Studies Program. Dr. Russel y Rodríguez has authored over 15 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, including influential works on ethnographic praxis, Chicana feminist theory, and the intersection of gender and race. Her activism centers on women's health and reproductive rights for marginalized Latinas. She has received fellowships from the Ford and Danforth Foundations and grants from the National Science Foundation. Education: PhD, UCLA (Cultural Anthropology, 1995); BA, Yale University (Anthropology) Awards: Ford Foundation Fellowship, Danforth Foundation Fellowship, NSF Grant Her current projects explore decolonial methodologies in ethnography and the role of contingent faculty in academic diversity initiatives. She advises faculty for the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Program and mentors emerging scholars in Latinx Studies.

• Cultural Anthropology
• Latinx Studies
• Feminist Theory
• +5 more