Marissa Lopez

Marissa Lopez is an Associate Professor of English and Chicana/o Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her scholarly work focuses on Chicanx literature from the 19th century to contemporary periods, particularly examining themes of nationalism, racial immanence, and affective representations of the body in cultural production.

• PhD, English, UC Berkeley (2006)
• MA, English, University of Wisconsin, Madison (1999)
• BA, English, UC Berkeley (1996)

Her research spans literary history, critical race theory, and gender studies, with publications analyzing Mexican-American identity in 19th-century California, sentimentality in Chicanx fiction, and phenomenological approaches to race in contemporary works. Recent articles explore realism, vital materiality, and sensory experience in Chicanx narratives.

• Leadership Roles: Vice President, Latina/o Studies Association; former Associate Director, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center; former chair, UCLA Committee on Diversity and Equal Opportunity

As Director of Professionalization in UCLA’s English Department, she develops programs for graduate student career development. Her work bridges literary analysis, historical scholarship, and social justice advocacy.