Mirelsie Velazquez

Mirelsie Velazquez is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, holding dual appointments in the College of Education (Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership) and Latina/Latino Studies. Her research focuses on the educational experiences of marginalized communities, particularly Puerto Rican populations in Chicago, employing critical historical methodologies and social justice frameworks.

• Ph.D. in Educational Policy Studies, University of Illinois
• M.A. in Educational Policy Studies, University of Illinois
• B.A. in Political Science and Latina/o Studies, University of Illinois

Velazquez's work examines urban education history, Latina/o identity formation, and print culture's role in community empowerment. Her 2025 book chapter on Critical Historical Methodologies and 2022 monograph Puerto Rican Chicago represent key contributions to understanding educational resistance movements and diaspora experiences.

Her research has been recognized with the AESA Critics' Choice Book Award (2023), and she serves as editor for key academic journals. Velazquez teaches advanced courses in historical research methods and educational policy analysis, while also contributing to institutional initiatives through the College of Education's Bureau of Educational Research.