About Us
The Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies is one of the first of its kind in the nation! We are an interdisciplinary and transnational program of teaching, research, and public service that provides students with the opportunity to explore the history, politics, culture, and ethics of Chicana/o/x-Latinx communities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Our mission is to develop interculturally aware 21st century leaders who engage in social-justice oriented community service and scholarship. We achieve our mission through our curriculum, research, and knowledge production, which explores race, gender identities, class, immigration, and ethnicity, and emphasizes the U.S.-Mexico borderlands (history, sociopolitical contexts, comparative and symbolic borders), expressive arts (art, cinema, music, theater), and community practices for social change (health, education, community organizing).
We are situated in one of the world’s most dynamic metropolitan areas characterized by the international border and the rich perpetual flow of people, culture, and goods in both directions. Our faculty members use our location as a laboratory for research, teaching, and service.
A Statement from the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies at San Diego State University
We are heart-broken and disappointed to hear the recent news regarding Cesar Chavez.
Sexual abuse is always reprehensible, regardless of who perpetrates it. We stand with
the victims and survivors.
As academics and activists we know that social movements are not the work of just one individual but rather the product of collective action. Engaging critically with our history is not a rejection of it, but rather the only way of assuring an accurate rendition of the past that takes everyone’s experiences into account.
As a department, we remain committed to fostering spaces of critical reflection, care, and solidarity. We will continue the work of building community with the goal of a more just future.
Moments like this one can bring up a range of emotions and questions. We encourage our comunidad to approach one another with compassion, to seek out support when needed, and to continue engaging in thoughtful dialogue.
SDSU Students can call Counseling and Psychological Services at 619-594-5220 or walk into Calpulli 4400. Urgent appointments are available during business hours (Mon-Fri 8am-4:30pm). There is also 24/7 crisis support by phone.
The San Diego Access & Crisis Line: 888-724-7240 is available 24/7.
The Crisis Text Line is available 24/7. You can text HOME to 741741 to text with a live, trained volunteer crisis counselor.
Upcoming Events and Recent News
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Gracia Molina Enriquez De Pick Scholarship recipient, Claudia Lupita Lopez, will present her research titled, "Chula Vista Bites Back: Working-Class Women Redefine Identity Within the Service Industry," on Wednesday, April 29, from 2-4 p.m. in AL 660. Please RSVP for the presentation.
- We would like to congratulate Professor Norma Iglesias Prieto for receiving SDSU's Division of Research and Innovation 2025-2026 Humanities Scholar Award in recognition of her outstanding research and scholarship. Felicidades!
Important Contacts
Department Chair
Dr. Victoria González-Rivera
[email protected]
Undergraduate Adviser
Paola Martinez
[email protected]
Administrative Coordinator
Angelica Garcia
[email protected]