Yvette Saavedra

Dr. Yvette J. Saavedra is an Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department at the University of Oregon's College of Arts and Sciences. She specializes in interdisciplinary socio-cultural history through the lenses of Chicana/o Studies, Borderlands Studies, and Gender & Sexuality Studies.

• Academic Focus: 19th-20th century U.S. History, U.S. West, California, and Chicana Feminisms
• Current Status: On sabbatical during 2025-2026 academic year

Research Themes:
Explores intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and colonialism in Mexican California (1790-1870), focusing on transgressive femininities and political citizenship. Investigates lesbian/queer genealogy of Chicana feminism (1970-2020) and historical development of ranchera femininity in Mexican California.

Academic Contributions:
Author of Pasadena Before the Roses (2018) and co-editor of the BorderVisions book series with University of Arizona Press. Her work reconceptualizes land use politics as expressions of racial/cultural identity formation.

Scientific Recognition:

• 2019 Western History Association Fellowship
• 2021 Oregon Humanities Center Fellowship
• Multiple research grants (CSWS, CeLAS)
• 2023 Catronia R. Esquibel Recognition
• 2024 Antonia I. Castaneda Prize