Lorena Oropeza

Lorena Oropeza serves as Professor and Department Chair in the Ethnic Studies Department at the University of California, Berkeley, while holding core faculty positions in the Chicanx/Latinx Studies Program and the Latinx Democracy Cluster, an interdisciplinary initiative advancing Latinx-focused research across campus.

Her scholarship critically examines the intersection of race and empire through the lens of 1960s social movements, particularly the Chicano Movement's resistance to the Vietnam War and U.S. territorial expansion. Utilizing oral history methodologies honed from her background in journalism, she centers marginalized women's experiences to challenge conventional historical narratives and explore themes of racial injustice, patriarchy, and imperial legacies.

Dr. Oropeza's publications demonstrate sustained engagement with Chicano historical consciousness, revealing connections between contemporary social justice struggles and historical resistance movements. Her work bridges academic scholarship with public discourse, emphasizing history's subversive potential to reshape contemporary understandings of race, gender, and empire.

Awards and Honors

• Fellow, Academia de Liderazgo, Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (2020)
• Norris & Carole Hundley “Outstanding Book” Award, Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association (2020)
• American Historical Association Equity Award (2018)
• UC Davis Chancellor’s Award for Community and Diversity (2017)
• PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Award for Multicultural Excellence (2007)
• International Latino Book Award for Best History Book in English (2006)

Through her leadership in the Latinx Democracy Cluster, Professor Oropeza actively promotes faculty diversity and interdisciplinary collaboration, working with scholars across disciplines to strengthen institutional commitments to Latinx research and inclusive academic environments that reflect community needs.