Alex Espinoza

Alex Espinoza is the Tomás Rivera Endowed Chair and Professor of Creative Writing at the University of California, Riverside. A queer Mexican-American writer born in Tijuana and raised in Southern California, he specializes in fiction exploring Mexican-American identity, LGBTQ+ experiences, and cultural history.

His research interests encompass creative writing pedagogy, Mexican-American literary traditions, LGBTQ+ narratives, and the intersection of historical context with contemporary identity formation. His works frequently examine themes of migration, masculinity, and cultural legacy.

Espinoza has received significant recognition including the American Book Award for his novel The Five Acts of Diego León, along with fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, and Macdowell. His forthcoming novel The Sons of El Rey continues his exploration of multigenerational Mexican-American experiences.