Lisa Magana

Lisa Magana is a Professor in the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University (ASU) and Associate Dean of Strategic Charter Initiatives. She holds affiliations with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Global Education Office, the School of Politics and Global Studies, and the Center for Latina/os and American Politics Research. Her research focuses on immigration policy, Latino public policy, and Arizona’s political landscape. Magana has authored numerous books, including ¡Empoderados!/Empowered! How Latinos Transformed Politics in Arizona (2021) and Arizona, Immigration and Latinos & Politics (2014). She has also published extensively on Latino political mobilization and the social construction of immigrant identities.

Education: Ph.D. in Political Science (1995), M.A. in Public Policy (1991), and B.A. in Political Science (1987) from Claremont Graduate School, California Polytechnic University, Pomona, and Claremont Graduate School, respectively. She served as President of the Chicano/Latino Faculty and Staff Association (2006–2007) and has been an active member of various academic and professional committees, including roles in university governance and diversity initiatives.

Her work explores the intersection of immigration policies, ethnic politics, and social justice. Notable contributions include analyses of SB 1070 and the impact of anti-immigrant legislation on Latino communities. Magana’s research has been featured in media outlets, and she frequently engages in public discourse on Latino political empowerment and policy reform.