Anna Ochoa O'Leary

Anna Ochoa O'Leary is a Professor and Department Head of Mexican American Studies at the University of Arizona. She has been teaching since 2002 and is a leading scholar in immigration, gender, and border studies. Her work spans anthropology, education, and policy, with a focus on undocumented populations and U.S.-Mexico border dynamics.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Anthropology, University of Arizona

Research Interests:

Her research centers on undocumented immigration, gendered migration experiences, and borderland communities. She explores how immigration policies affect mixed-status households, particularly women, and how communities respond to stigma and legal pressure. She also examines the intersection of education, culture, and economic survival among Mexican-origin populations in the U.S.

Her work contributes to understanding the human cost of immigration enforcement, the resilience of immigrant women, and the role of education in transnational contexts.

Awards and Honors:

• Fulbright Scholar (2006–2007)
• Public Voices "Thought Leader" Fellow (2014–2015)

Teaching and Leadership:

She teaches graduate courses on Mexican Migration and Feminization of Migration, and an undergraduate course on Latin American Migration and the Remaking of the U.S. She has also authored and edited several academic texts and encyclopedias, and is actively involved in community organizations such as Coalición de Derechos Humanos and Fundación México.