Message from the Chair

 
Chicano/Latino Studies is one of the best majors and minors at UCI—it’s a true hidden gem in the School of Social Sciences. As a former anteater, I’m proud to have been a major and now a faculty member in this exceptional department. Once an Anteater, always an Anteater!

Our department is unique. We’re the only multidisciplinary department in the School of Social Sciences, and we’re ranked among the top in the country. The classes you’ll take with us bring together fields like sociology, psychology, political science, history, and literature—giving you a well-rounded and solid education. It opens doors to all kinds of careers: law, education, counseling, healthcare, social work, business, and beyond.

The first time I encountered a course that explored the variation of Latino experiences in the U.S.—and their interactions with other groups—was in college. It was eye-opening. I couldn’t help but ask: Why didn’t I learn this sooner? A lot of us feel that way. The Chicano/Latino Studies department is a place where you can finally learn the full story—including your own—and see how it all fits into what’s happening today. Learning about the past helps us understand the present—and imagine a better future.

We are living in a moment in history that presents many challenges to our communities. Lately, I’ve had a song from the bicultural band, La Santa Cecilia, stuck in my head. Music, dance, and storytelling are powerful–and they are a big part of our curriculum as well. These media allow us to express who we are, stay strong, and keep moving forward. Across California—from cities like Los Angeles, Santa Ana and Santa Maria to the Central Valley and beyond, young people are standing up for their families and communities. In the past, many of us were pressured to assimilate and told to leave our cultures at home. But today, you’ll see professionals of Mexican, Central American, and Caribbean heritage proudly embracing their roots—using their language and background as cultural capital to improve education, healthcare, and social outcomes.

How do they do this? That’s what you’ll learn in Chicano/Latino Studies! Expressing Latinidad may be received differently depending on where you are, but many people are proudly holding onto or reclaiming their heritage despite ongoing discrimination. Reconnecting or expressing Latinidad looks different for everyone. It might mean taking courses that reflect your identity, supporting causes you believe in, or taking to the streets to stand up for justice—as Chicano/Latino communities have historically done. Whatever path you choose, I urge you to find a form of engagement that feels right and meaningful to you.

Students who majored in Chicano/Latino Studies at UCI have gone on to become successful physicians, psychologists, immigration attorneys, school counselors and board members, social workers, teachers, and digital media experts, and more. They consistently give back, honoring the sacrifices made by their families and communities. You can see some of our undergraduate alumni stories here. Their success began with the classes they engaged with, the mentors they met, and the community they built with our award-winning faculty and experts.

I have the honor of serving as the Chair (the capitán) of Chicano/Latino Studies and guiding us through uncharted waters. As a proud UCI alum connected to the Humanities, Social Sciences, and the School of Medicine, I hope all of our students—graduate and undergraduate—will embrace multidisciplinarity as well. I believe in crossing boundaries and learning from different fields. It makes us stronger thinkers and better problem-solvers. Most of us are already doing this every day—moving between cultures, languages, and roles at school, home, and work. That ability to navigate and adapt is a real superpower. And it will help shape the kind of leader you become.

You belong here, and I can’t wait to see where your journey takes you.