Nina M. Flores

Nina M. Flores is an Associate Professor in the Equity, Education & Social Justice (EESJ) program at the College of Education, California State University, Long Beach. A proud product of the California public education system, she holds a PhD in Urban Planning from UCLA and has interdisciplinary expertise in education, political science, and urban planning. She is actively engaged in teaching, research, and leadership, including serving as Chair of the Faculty Council (2024) and advising on sustainability and gender equity initiatives.

• PhD, Urban Planning, UCLA
• MA, Social & Cultural Analysis, CSULB
• MA, Political Science, San Diego State
• BA, Political Science, CSULB

Her research centers on equity, social justice, targeted harassment of faculty, sex education in higher ed, gender-based violence, and critical pedagogies. She uses interdisciplinary methods to examine how power, space, and identity shape educational and urban experiences. Her work has been recognized nationally, including the 2023 Curriculum Innovation Award from the Lincoln Institute and ACSP.

Her recent publications explore online harassment of academics, spatial justice, student activism, and liberatory teaching practices. These works reflect a consistent focus on marginalized voices, institutional accountability, and transformative education. She frequently presents at national and international conferences on topics related to free speech, campus safety, and social movements.

Scientific Awards and Recognitions:

• Curriculum Innovation Award (2023)
• Senior Fellow, UC National Center for Free Speech (2023–24)
• Most Valuable Professor, CSULB College of Education (2019)
• Policy Brief Prize, UCLA (2015)

Nina Flores mentors graduate students on theses related to LGBTQ+ education, campus safety, MotherScholars, and resistance strategies. She also leads the Sex & Sexuality Dialogue Group and integrates liberatory coaching into student support. Her leadership extends to the CSULB Moot Court Program (since 2005) and advisory roles in urban planning and sustainability.