I was born in East Oakland, California and raised bi-nationally, moving back and forth between Jalisco, México and the states. I was raised in a Mexican and Puerto Rican working-class household where I learned the value of solidarity, earned rage against injustice, and above all a hopefulness about what tomorrow can bring. I studied literature at Stanford and Cornell, and I’ve been teaching here in the Department of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies since 2006. I’m an activist-scholar primarily working in the fields of queer studies, Latinx studies, feminist theory, and comparative ethnic studies. I am also a children’s book author and a filmmaker. I’m eager to support students in finding their own path, contributing to the vibrancy of our communities, and creating mentorship-rich networks.