Héctor Calderón

Professor Héctor Calderón is a faculty member in the César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a leading figure in Chicana/o literary studies, with a focus on Mexican and Latin American literature, border studies, and cultural connections between the U.S. and Mexico. His work spans literary criticism, anthologies, and transnational research.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Latin American Literature with a minor in Comparative Literature, Yale University (1981)
• M.A. in Spanish Literature, University of California, Irvine (1975)
• B.S. in Business Administration, UCLA (1968)

Calderón’s research explores Chicana/o and Mexican literature within broader cultural and political frameworks, emphasizing border theory, diaspora narratives, and interdisciplinary approaches. His publications include foundational texts like Criticism in the Borderlands (1991), Narratives of Greater Mexico (2005), and The Aztlán Mexican Studies Reader (2018), which received international accolades. Recent essays (2022) examine Los Angeles urban narratives and Hispanoamerican literary history.

Scientific Awards:

• Two Academic Themed Book awards at the 21st Annual International Latino Book Awards
• Bronze Award at the Independent Publishers Book Awards–Book Series

Calderón has mentored 11 Ph.D. students, many of whom hold influential academic roles. His affiliations include founding the César E. Chávez Center for Interdisciplinary Instruction in Chicana/o Studies (1994) and directing the UC Mexico Study Center (2004-2008). He has also contributed to interdisciplinary theory and education through visiting appointments at Stanford and Harvard.