Irene Lara

Irene Lara is an Associate Professor in the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at San Diego State University (SDSU), part of the College of Arts and Letters. She holds a B.A. in American Studies from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in Ethnic Studies from UC Berkeley. Her work centers on decolonial feminism, Chicana/Latina spirituality, and curandera praxis. Lara co-edited Women in Culture (2016) and Fleshing the Spirit (2014), and leads initiatives like the CuranderaScholarActivism program, fostering holistic mentorship for first-generation students. She advises the Association of Chicana Activists and teaches courses on Chicana motherhood, sexuality, and borderlands studies. Her research integrates Anzaldúan theory, Indigenous knowledge, and reproductive justice frameworks.

Education:

• B.A. (Honors), American Studies with Race/Ethnicity Focus, Stanford University
• Ph.D., Ethnic Studies (Women, Gender, and Sexuality Emphasis), UC Berkeley

Research emphasizes:

• Chicana/Latina spirituality and healing practices
• Decolonial pedagogies
• Borderlands identity
• Curandera activism

Advising/Community:

• Founder of the CuranderaScholarActivism femtoring seminar (2009–2017)
• Co-developed the Storytelling to Transform civic engagement course (2018–present)
• Faculty advisor for SDSU’s Women’s Studies Department and student organizations

Current projects include co-editing Anzaldúan Pedagogy and Decolonizing the Sacred, exploring oral histories of community healers.