• Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz is a Mexicana/Chicana queer educator, writer, activist, and performer born in Sonora, Mexico and raised in southern California. She is a professor of Spanish and Chicanx/Latinx cultural and LGBTQ+ studies.听Her academic interests are Mexican, Chicanx, and Latinx literatures, cultures, gender and sexuality, as well as theater and performance studies. As a daughter of the Mexico/US borderlands, her approach to teaching and writing is interdisciplinary by nature and her work centers the stories of socially and economically marginalized communities in these two bordering countries. She is the first member of her extended family to receive a college degree and in 2019, she became the first Latina faculty to go through the ranks of assistant, associate, and full professor at 性爱天堂.

    Her academic and artistic work has been presented at local, national, and international conferences such as El Mundo Zurdo by the听, the听听(MALCS), the听听(AJAAS), the听, and the International Conference on Chicano Literature and Latino Studies by听, in Spain.

    At 性爱天堂, Urquijo-Ruiz has taught courses on, literature, culture, writing, first-year experience, Spanish grammar, leadership, LGBTQ+ studies, and women鈥檚 and gender studies. She is proud to have directed the听Mexico, the Americas, and Spain (MAS) Program, under which she and Juan Sep煤lveda, Ph.D. (Education Department) co-created the first Latinx Leadership Institute (2019). Under MAS, she also lead the charge to create the听Global Latinx Studies major听and will serve as its inaugural director.

    In 2019 she received听性爱天堂鈥檚 award听for distinguished university, community, and professional service for her local and national contributions. She has mentored students under the听Undergraduate Research in the Arts & Humanities, the听McNair Scholars Program, and the听MAS Alvarez Summer Internship program. She was co-organized three Alvarez Seminars: two with听Rosana Blanco-Cano, Ph.D., on 鈥淣ew Identities in the Americas鈥 (2010) and 鈥淟atinx Leadership and Empowerment鈥 (2019) and one with听 Norma E. Cant煤, Ph.D., on 鈥淟atina Poetry Across the Americas鈥 (2018). Urquijo-Ruiz is a member of the organizing committee for听El Mundo Zurdo听(The Left-Handed World), an international conference that celebrates the work and life of Chicana queer author听. She has served on the editorial board and national advisory board of听.

    • Ph.D. in Literature, University听of California, San Diego
    • M.A. in Literature, University听of California, San Diego
    • B.A. in Spanish Literature and Ethnic Studies, University of California, Riverside

    Books

    Co-edited Books

    Co-edited Refereed Journal Special Issue

    • 听Bilingual Review/La Revista Biling眉e.

    Articles/Introductions in Refereed Journals and Books

    • Cant煤, Norma E. and Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz,听Introduction: Chicana Theater and the Plays of Silviana Wood. In听Barrio Dreams: Selected plays by Silviana Wood. University of Arizona Press, Phoenix, 2016: 3-36. (2016).
    • 鈥淐omfortably Queer: The Chicano Gay Subject in Dan Guerrero鈥檚听隆骋补测迟颈苍辞!鈥澨In听Ollantay Theatre Magazine. Special issue on Latina/Latino Queer Theatre and Performance.听 Ram贸n H. Rivera-Servera and Alberto Sandoval-S谩nchez, eds. 15.29-30 (Fall 2008): 147-167. Print
    • 路
    • 路Urquijo-Ruiz, Rita E. 鈥淓studio onom谩stico de los personajes en听Las aventuras de don Chipote o Cuando los pericos mamen.鈥 In听Nerter:听Una revista dedicada a la Literatura, el Arte y el Conocimiento.听Mar铆a Herrera-Sobek, ed. 5-6. (Spring-Summer, 2003): 64-67. A special issue on Chicana/o Literature and Culture entitled 鈥淩ompiendo Fronteras: Literatura y Cultura Chicanas鈥 published in Islas Canarias, Spain.

    Film and Book Reviews

    • Rev. of听With Her Machete in Her Hand: Reading Chicana听Lesbians.听Journal of the History of Sexuality. Austin, University of Texas Press. 20.2 (May 2011): 399-401.

    Creative Writing: Calavera (Day of the Dead Satirical) Poems

    • November 2004:听听& 鈥鈥
    • November 2005:听&
    • November 2006:听听&听
    • November 2007:听&听&听听(co-authored)
    • November 2008:听
    • November 2009:听听&听
    • November 2010:听听&听
    • November 2011:听听&听
    • November 2012:听听(co-authored)听& 鈥淟a Doctora Norma E. Cant煤鈥
    • November 2013:听听&听
    • November 2014:听
    • November 2015:听听&听
    • November 2016:听听&听
    • November 2017:听&
    • November 2018:听听&听

    Chicanx and Mexican Literatures and Cultures, U.S. Latinx Cultural Studies, Theater and Performance Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Border and Immigration Studies, Transnational Mexican Cultural Studies, Critical Race Theory, and Latinx and Chicanx Cultural Studies.

    • All levels of Spanish Language
    • Latin American Civilization
    • Transnational Mexican Popular Culture
    • First-Year Experience:听Inventing Mexico
    • First-Year Experience:听A Successful Life
    • Chicana/o/x Literature
    • Chicana/x Feminisms
    • Chicana/o/x Music
    • Latina/o/x Theater and Performance
    • Latinx Leadership
    • Latinx Cultural and Artistic Expressions
    • Introduction to LGBTQ+ Studies
    • 2019听Distinguished University, Community, and Professional Service听Award, 性爱天堂.
    • 2018听Mellon Grant for Undergraduate Summer Research: Acting to Combat Stigma Surrounding HIV and AIDS Testing and Treatment (Theatre for Social Change)
    • 2017 性爱天堂 Academic Leave
    • 2016听Mellon Grant for Undergraduate Summer Research: Female Voices in Independent Latin American Cinema
    • 2015 性爱天堂 Summer Research Stipend
    • 2013 性爱天堂 Information Literacy Grant for 鈥淚ntroduction to Queer Studies鈥
    • 2012 性爱天堂 Academic Leave
    • 2009 性爱天堂 Summer Research Stipend
    • 2008 性爱天堂 Information Literacy Grant for 鈥淐hicana/o Short Story鈥
    • 2007 Lennox Seminar Award with Drs. Rosana Blanco-Cano and Arturo Madrid for a seminar series on transnational Mexican popular culture
    • 2007 性爱天堂 Summer Research Stipend
    • 2006 Languages Across the Curriculum Course Development Grant
    • 2006 San Antonio Telemundo: Woman of the Week
    • 2005 性爱天堂 Summer Research Stipend
    • 2003 University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC MEXUS) Dissertation Research Grant.
    • 2002 Chicana Dissertation Fellowship, UC Santa Barbara

    性爱天堂 Involvement

    • Director of Global Latinx Studies major, 2019.
    • Co-organizer of the inaugural Latinx Leadership Institute, 2019.
    • Interim Director of the Mexico, the Americas, and Spain (MAS) Program, 2018-2019.
    • Search committee chair. Spanish tenure-track, and visiting professor positions, 2018 and 2019.
    • Member of the Promotion and Tenure Commission, 2015-18.
    • Co-organizer 鈥淲omen of Color Faculty Reception鈥 with Vice President D. Jones, 2017.
    • Co-organizer 鈥淲omen of Color Faculty Lunches with Dr. Norma Cant煤. 2017.
    • Co-organizer 鈥淎ll Women Faculty Reception,鈥 2016.
    • De Colores Latinx Graduation Ceremony Inaugural Speaker, 2018.
    • MAS Program Executive Committee Member, 2012-2018.
    • Co-organizer Alvarez Seminar on Latinx Leadership & Empowerment (2019) and New Identities in the Americas, 2010.
    • McNair Scholars Summer Research Mentor, 2014, 2016, 2018.
    • Mellon Initiative Summer Research Mentor, 2016, 2018.
    • Class of 2014 Marshal, 2010-2014.
    • Faculty mentor for first-generation students, 2009-2019.
    • Co-director of Women鈥檚 and Gender Studies (WAGS),
    • Member of the Faculty Senate, 2007-2010.
    • McNair Scholars Program Tutorial Faculty, 2007-2010, 2012.
    • 鈥淒ifficult Dialogues鈥 Summer Workshop participant, 2006, 2007.
    • Member of the 鈥淒ifficult Dialogues鈥 grant writing committee. Awarded by the Ford Foundation, 2005.

    Professional Involvement

    • Inaugural director of the听Globla Latinx Studies major, 2019
    • Co-Facilitator of inaugural听,听听and 性爱天堂 lead by Professor Juan Sep煤lveda. 2018-2019. Leadership Workshops for Thirty Dreamers across the United States.
    • Editorial Review Board Member for听Chicana/Latina Studies: The Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social/Women Active in Letters and Social Change (MALCS), 2009-2018.
    • National Advisory Board for听Chicana/Latina Studies: The Journal of MALCS, Since Summer 2017.
    • Reviewer of articles for the academic journals: Chicana/Latina Studies (2016),听Aztl谩n: A Journal of Chicano Studies,听(2015 and 2017),听Latino Studies (2015), and Di谩logo: An Interdisciplinary Journal of the Center for Latino Research at DePaul University. Chicago, IL, 2014,听Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies, 2007.
    • Acting Chair (May-July 2013), Chair-Elect (July 2012-May 2013), Chair (July 2013-August 2014), and Ex-Officio Chair (August 2014-July 2015) for Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social/Women Active in Letters and Social Change (MALCS), 2012-2016 respectively.
    • Reviewer a book translations and book proposals for university and commercial presses:听Palgrave Mcmillan (2016, 2017), University of Chicago (2012, 2017), University of Arizona (2016), University of Texas, (2005, 2012), K贸rima (2014).
    • Interim Board Member. Association for Joter铆a Arts, Activism and Scholarship (AJAAS) 2012-2014.
    • Reviewer of tenure case for the department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Culture, Gustavus Adolphus College, (2016), Chicano Studies, Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, (2013), and Foreign Languages and literatures, Marquette University (2013).
    • Latin American Studies Association (LASA):听Latino Studies Section-Outstanding Article Award Committee member, National Competition, 2016.
    • Copy edited an article in Spanish for听Chicana/Latina Studies the Journal of MALCS published by Arizona State University, AZ. June 2015.
    • Site Committee member, co-organizer, and reviewer of proposals for 鈥淓l Mundo Zurdo鈥 international conference. The Society for the Study of Gloria Anzald煤a (SSGA). San Antonio, TX. Fall 2005 to present.
    • Member of Master Thesis Committee. Crystal Serrano鈥檚 work on Chicana/o Punk Music. Mexican American Studies, Department of Bilingual/Bicultural Studies. University of San Antonio, Texas. Spring-Summer 2014.
    • Member of Site Committee for the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS) Conference 2013. Fall 2012-Spring 2013.
    • MALCS Executive Board Member: Treasurer (Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social). The National Organization of Chicana/Latina Studies. August 2008-August 2011.
    • Represented 性爱天堂 as a Delegate at President Nancy 鈥淩usty鈥 Barcel贸鈥檚 inauguration ceremony. Northern New Mexico College. Espa帽ola. October 2010.
    • Co-organized round table entitled 鈥淒oing Work that Matters a MALCS (Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social) Roundtable.鈥 Presented at El Mundo Zurdo International Conference. San Antonio, TX. November 2010.
    • Co-organized conference panels annually for the Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social (MALCS). Since 2002.
    • MALCS-San Antonio Chapter fundraiser co-organizer. February 2009.
    • MALCS (National) fundraiser co-organizer of Dr. Rusty Barcel贸鈥檚 Compact Disc entitled 鈥淪ongs from my Living Room.鈥 December 2008-2009.
    • Co-Sponsored the first African-American Women鈥檚 Language Conference with Dr. Sonja Lanehart, Brackenridge Endowed Chair, Department of English, Classics and Philosophy, UTSA. San Antonio, TX, March 2008.
    • Co-organized four academic and three artistic events under the Lennox Seminar on Transnational Mexican Culture. 性爱天堂. Spring 2008.
    • Co-organized literary reading by Chicana writer Ana Castillo in collaboration with UTSA鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Studies Institute. Spring 2008, fall 2018.
    • Reviewed proposals and organized panels for the National Association for Chicana/Chicano Studies (NACCS). 2003, 2006, 2007, 2018.
    • By request from NACCS, wrote a biographical essay on Dr. Norma E. Cant煤 for the organization鈥檚 newsletter. December 2007.
    • Coordinated Dr. Norma E. Cant煤鈥檚 National Association for Chicana/Chicano Studies (NACCS) Scholar of the Year Award nomination packet. October 2007.
    • Gave a written interview to a prominent Mexican Literary Journal on Chicana and Chicano Literature and Spanglish and was quoted as an expert on these topics.听La Jornada Semanal: 鈥淓l spanglish: la frontera del idioma (Spanglish: The Border of Language). October 2007.
    • Chaired a panel entitled 鈥淩ecovering Pre-Civil Rights Latina Feminists.鈥澨Western History Association/Recovering the U. S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Project Conference. St. Louis, Missouri, October 2006.
    • Organized a history and literature panel entitled: 鈥淧erformance and History: Reclaiming Brown Voices in the U. S. Southwest: The Cases of听Ramona, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca, Napa Newspapers, and La Chata Noloesca.鈥 Western History Association/Recovering the U. S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Project Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, October 2006.
    • Served as a simultaneous translator for the Plenary Session 鈥淏rown Bodies: Women, War, Violence, and Sexuality,鈥 at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Chicana/Chicano Studies (NACCS), Los Angeles, CA, April 2003.
    • Speaker at Queer Sensitivity Workshop: titled 鈥淐oming Out to our Familias,鈥 University of California, Santa Barbara, February 18, 2003.
    • Member of the Interdisciplinary Chicano/Latino/Mexicano Research Focus Group, University of California, Santa Barbara.听 2002-2003.
    • Member of the Teatro de las Am茅ricas, Chicano Studies/Center for Chicano Studies. University of California, Santa Barbara, 2002-2003.
    • Organized talk/book-signing event for Dr. Judith Halberstam鈥檚听Female Masculinity, University of California, San Diego, January 1999.

    Community Involvement

    • Member of the Pro-Immigrant Coalition. San Antonio. Since Fall 2017.
    • Mentor to UTSA MALCS Chapter. San Antonio. June 2017.
    • Member of the 鈥淥tro Coraz贸n 2鈥 Participant Group to Honor San Antonio Distinguished Residents: Dr. Tom谩s Ybarra-Frausto and Dudley Brooks. Los Angeles, California. February 2017.
    • Volunteer and sponsor of art events, The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. October 2004 to present.
    • Participant in El Mundo Zurdo Poetry Reading honoring the Work of Gloria E. Anzald煤a. Galer铆a E.V.A. (Ecos y Voces del Arte). San Antonio, TX. November, 2016.
    • Participant in the First Festival honoring the Life and Work of Sor Juana In茅s de la Cruz. Galer铆a E.V.A. (Ecos y Voces del Arte). San Antonio, TX. October 8 and 15, 2016.
    • 鈥淵o la peor de todas.鈥听Introduction to performer Mar铆a Elena Gait谩n 鈥淐hola con 鈥楥ello.鈥 Sor Juana Festival. Galler铆a E.V.A. (Ecos y Voces del Arte). San Antonio, TX. October 8, 2016.
    • Participant and founding member of MALCS (Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social/Women Active in Letters and Social Change), San Antonio chapter. Fall 2005 to 2015.
    • P.E.A.C.E (Putting an End to Abuse Through Community Effort) Initiative. Fundraising performance participant. San Antonio, TX. November, 2015.
    • Member of SOMOS MAS (Mexican American Studies) committee: a consortium of faculty teaching Mexican American Studies in higher education institutions in San Antonio, TX, 2013-2015.
    • Sponsored Kathryn Griffin鈥檚 presentation on 鈥淗uman Sex Trafficking Reform.鈥 性爱天堂, San Antonio. April, 2014.
    • Lanier High School Poetry Competition. I was a judge at this Spoken Word Competition. San Antonio, TX. April, 2014.
    • Master of Ceremony for Jump Start Performance Party 29 鈥淲recking Ball.鈥 San Antonio, TX. January 2014.
    • Master of Ceremony for Event 鈥淗omenaje a Eva Garza y las divas de la canci贸n mexicana.鈥 The Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. San Antonio, TX. February 2013.
    • Board of Directors Member: Jump-Start Performance Company. San Antonio, TX. Since June 2010 to April 2014.
    • Jump Start Ad hoc Committee, San Antonio, TX. Summer 2012.
    • Co-organizer of Macondo. San Antonio鈥檚 Literary Event by Sandra Cisneros. Summer 2011.
    • Co-organizer of Jump-Start events, Summer 2011.
    • Co-organizer of The Vagina Monologues for the City of San Antonio.听 Summer 2011.
    • Bihl Haus Art Exhibit, collaboration. Presentation on the work of Chicano gay artist David Zamora Casas, June 2010.
    • Volunteer for Caf茅 Citlali opening. Saturday, June 2010.
    • Volunteer at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, Summer 2008 to 2010.
    • Volunteer for the Mujeres, Muertos, Manfloras, Mentors y Milagros Art Exhibit. Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. November 2009.
    • Organized a Poetry Reading for the 鈥淓l Mundo Zurdo鈥 International Conference. May 2009.
    • Participant in art exhibit 鈥淕ema: Dando A Luz al Arte de Mujer: A Collection of Intimate Exhibitions Giving Light to Women鈥檚 Voices.鈥 Tonantzin Gallery, The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, San Antonio, TX, March 7-May 29, 2009.
    • Volunteer and Poetry Reading Participant for the Exquisite Corpse Art Exhibit. Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. July 2008.
    • Participant, Accordion Workshop. Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, May 8-9, 2008.
    • Participant, Barro en el Barrio (Clay in the Barrio) Workshop. Our Lady of the Lake U. Spring 2008.
    • Participant, 鈥淟ocal Genius, performer鈥 and volunteered in 鈥淟os MacArturos鈥 a City-Wide Latina/o MacArthur Award Reunion Events. October 2007.
    • Coordinated with Esperanza Peace and Justice Center for Dr. Antonia Casta帽eda鈥檚 retirement event.听 May 2007.
    • Coordinated events with Esperanza Peace and Justice Center for Adelina Anthony鈥檚 visit to San Antonio.听 March 2007.
    • Organized a group of 150 students from Colonial Hills Elementary to view the Ballet de Monterrey.听 March 2006.
    • Liaison for Cinefestival, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center.听 Spring 2005-Fall 2006.
    • Co-Sponsor of Mural Art Project, San Anto Cultural Arts Center.听 Spring 2005.
    • Co-Sponsor of the Tenth Annual Latina Letters Conference. St. Mary鈥檚 University and the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. Spring 2005.
    • Member of the San Antonio Book Fair event organizing committee. Spring 2005-2006.
    • Co-organizer of the Lila Downs Concert, 鈥淒ale Shine al West-Side,鈥 sponsored by the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. October 2004.