Thomas Jesús Garza

Thomas Jesús Garza serves as UT Regents' and University Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies at The University of Texas at Austin's College of Liberal Arts, where he directs the Texas Language Center. He holds additional affiliations with the Program in Comparative Literature and the Center for Mexican American Studies.

His educational background includes a doctorate from Harvard University (1987), earned after extensive research experience in Russia where he resided in Moscow for over five years across fieldwork periods spanning 1979–2020.

Research centers on cultural portraits of machismo in Russian and Latino contexts, Vladimir Vysotsky's American travels, and social justice practices in education. His pedagogical expertise covers Russian language/literature, applied linguistics, contemporary Russian culture, and critical world language teaching methodologies.

Dr. Garza's teaching excellence is recognized through:

• Texas Excellence Award
• President's Associates Award
• Harry Ransom Award
• University Academy of Distinguished Teachers (2003)
• Regents Outstanding Teaching Award (2009)
• Texas Ten by Texas Exes Alumni Association (2018)