Desirée Martín

Desirée Martín is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of California, Davis, where she has been a faculty member since 2004. Her academic work bridges literary, cultural, and transnational studies with a focus on U.S.-Mexico border dynamics and Chicana/o and Latina/o identities.

Education:

• Ph.D., Duke University, 2004
• Graduate Certificate in Latin American Cultural Studies, 2001
• B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 1994

Her research centers on U.S.-Mexico border studies, Chicana/o and Latina/o cultural production, transnational American studies, and 19th–20th century Mexican literature. She explores themes of secular sanctity, identity formation, multilingual aesthetics, and cultural translation, often interrogating how marginalized identities are represented and negotiated across borders.

The recent publications reflect a strong engagement with religious symbolism, revolutionary rhetoric, multilingual literature, and archival media. Her work spans academic journals, edited volumes, and public-facing media commentary, demonstrating interdisciplinary reach and cultural relevance.

Scientific Awards:

• Outstanding Book Award for 'Borderlands Saints', LASA Latino/a Studies Section, 2014
• Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship (2001-2002)
• Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship (1997)

Dr. Martín has supervised graduate research through her role in the English Department and continues to mentor emerging scholars in Chicana/o and transnational studies. She is currently developing a book project titled 'Untranslatable,' examining cultural translation and the refusal of fixed identity. Her work is supported by recognition from leading foundations and academic associations.

She contributes to academic discourse through publications and media engagement, particularly in reinterpreting historical and cultural narratives from Latinx perspectives. While no formal lab or research team is mentioned, her interdisciplinary approach suggests collaboration across departments and institutions.