Adrian V. Chavana

Adrian V. Chavana is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University, specializing in American Indian and Chicana/o/x history. His research focuses on Indigenous survivance, mestizaje, and the politics of recognition among the San Antonio Mission Indians and their descendants. He is currently completing his first book, Becoming Gente de Razón, which examines cultural and political resurgence among these communities. Dr. Chavana holds a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (2023).

He serves as a 2025-26 Bill and Rita Clements Fellow at SMU’s Clements Center for Southwest Studies and is a key advisor to the Alamo Museum Planning Committee, shaping the new Alamo Visitor Center and Museum set to open in 2027. His work emphasizes collaboration with Indigenous communities, particularly the tribal group central to his book project.

Research interests include the U.S.-Mexican Borderlands, Chicana/o American Indian histories, and public history initiatives. He has contributed to decolonizing narratives around Indigenous identity and resistance in Texas and the Southwest.