Devon G. Peña

Devon G. Peña is a Professor of American Ethnic Studies and Anthropology at the University of Washington, part of the College of Arts & Sciences. He holds adjunct and affiliate positions in the Program on the Environment, Latin American Studies, Women Studies, the Center for Water and Watershed Studies, and the Institute for Public Health Genetics. His academic journey includes previous faculty roles at Colorado College from 1984 to 2000.

• Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Texas-Austin (1983)
• M.A. in Sociology, University of Texas-Austin (1978)
• B.A. in Sociology, University of Texas-Austin (1976, cum laude)
• Graduate Fellowship at El Colegio de México (1979)

Peña's research focuses on environmental justice, political ecology, and the intersection of labor and capital. He explores acequia systems, biotechnology ethics, and community autonomy. His work bridges Chicano studies with ecological sustainability, emphasizing indigenous knowledge in environmental management.

Recent publications address acequia governance, urban agriculture, and the human right to water, highlighting customary law and modern water rights tensions.

• Richard T. Castro Distinguished Visiting Professor (2012)
• Outstanding Academic Book Award (ALA/Choice, 1998)
• Honorable Mention (Gustavus Meyer Center)
• Mustang Legend Distinguished Career Award (1998)

Peña supervises graduate students in environmental anthropology and Chicano studies. His grants include research on acequias and the Northwest Forest Plan. He provides expert testimony on environmental justice cases.

He co-founded the Acequia Institute, preserving traditional farming practices in Colorado’s Rio Culebra watershed, integrating community-based research with academia.