Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz, Ph.D.
- Professor , Modern Languages and Literatures
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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. 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 Trinity University.
Her academic and artistic work has been presented at local, national, and international conferences such as El Mundo Zurdo by the Society for the Study of Gloria Anzaldúa, the Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social/Women Active in Letters and Social Change (MALCS), the Association for Jotería, Arts, Activism, and Scholarship (AJAAS), the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS), and the International Conference on Chicano Literature and Latino Studies by HispaUsa, in Spain.
At Trinity, Urquijo-Ruiz has taught courses on, literature, culture, writing, first-year experience, Spanish grammar, leadership, LGBTQ+ studies, and women’s and gender studies. She is proud to have directed the Mexico, the Americas, and Spain (MAS) Program, under which she and Juan Sepúlveda, Ph.D. (Education Department) co-created the first Latinx Leadership Institute (2019). Under MAS, she also lead the charge to create the Global Latinx Studies major and will serve as its inaugural director.
In 2019 she received Trinity’s award for distinguished university, community, and professional service for her local and national contributions. She has mentored students under the Undergraduate Research in the Arts & Humanities, the McNair Scholars Program, and the MAS Alvarez Summer Internship program. She was co-organized three Alvarez Seminars: two with Rosana Blanco-Cano, Ph.D., on “New Identities in the Americas” (2010) and “Latinx Leadership and Empowerment” (2019) and one with Norma E. Cantú, Ph.D., on “Latina Poetry Across the Americas” (2018). Urquijo-Ruiz is a member of the organizing committee for El Mundo Zurdo (The Left-Handed World), an international conference that celebrates the work and life of Chicana queer author Gloria E. Anzaldúa. She has served on the editorial board and national advisory board of Chicana/Latina Studies: The Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social.
- Ph.D. in Literature, University of California, San Diego
- M.A. in Literature, University of California, San Diego
- B.A. in Spanish Literature and Ethnic Studies, University of California, Riverside
Books
Co-edited Books
- Barrio Dreams: Selected Plays by Silviana Wood
- El Mundo Zurdo 2: Selected Works from the 2010 Meeting of The Society for the Study of Gloria Anzaldúa
- Global Mexican Cultural Productions
- El Mundo Zurdo: Selected Works from the Meetings of The Society for the Study of Gloria Anzaldúa 2007 & 2009
Co-edited Refereed Journal Special Issue
- Latinx LGBTQ+ Perspectives. Bilingual Review/La Revista Bilingüe.
Articles/Introductions in Refereed Journals and Books
- Cantú, Norma E. and Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz, Introduction: Chicana Theater and the Plays of Silviana Wood. In Barrio Dreams: Selected plays by Silviana Wood. University of Arizona Press, Phoenix, 2016: 3-36. (2016).
- “Coming Home: The Latina/o Queer Zone of Comfort.” Dossier in Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies. M. Hames-García, ed. 39.1 (Spring 2014): 247-252.
- “Part(iend)o el alma: Rebirthing the Self.” Introduction to La Chismosa. Las Hociconas: Three Locas with Big Mouths and Even Bigger Brains. By Adelina Anthony. San Francisco: Kórima Press. Summer 2013.
- “Glittery Poetics: Joteando en San Antonio, Tejas.” Introduction to When the Glitter Fades. By Dino Foxx. San Francisco: Kórima Press. vii-xi. Summer 2013.
- Blanco-Cano, Rosana and Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz. Introduction. “Transnational Transgressions: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Global Mexican Cultural Productions.” Rosana Blanco-Cano and Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz, eds. Global Mexican Popular Culture. New York: Pa
- “Staging the Self, Staging Empowerment: An Overview of Latina Theater and Performance.” Inside the Latin@ Experience: A Latin@ Studies Reader. Norma Cantú and María Fránquiz, eds. New York: NY: Palgrave MacMillan, 2010. 151-172.
- “Undocumented and Queer: Carlos Manuel’s La Vida Loca.” Introduction to La Vida Loca: An apolitical, in-you-face odyssey of a Mexican immigrant: A Play by Carlos Manuel. Phoenix, AZ. The Lion & the Seagoat, LLC. 2010. ix-xv.
- “Comfortably Queer: The Chicano Gay Subject in Dan Guerrero’s ¡Gaytino!” In Ollantay Theatre Magazine. Special issue on Latina/Latino Queer Theatre and Performance. Ramón H. Rivera-Servera and Alberto Sandoval-Sánchez, eds. 15.29-30 (Fall 2008): 147-167. Print
- ·“Alicia Sotero Vásquez: Police Brutality against an Undocumented Mexican Woman.” In Chicana/Latina Studies: The Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social. 4.1 (Fall 2004): 62-84.
- ·Urquijo-Ruiz, Rita E. “Estudio onomástico de los personajes en Las aventuras de don Chipote o Cuando los pericos mamen.” In Nerter: Una revista dedicada a la Literatura, el Arte y el Conocimiento. María Herrera-Sobek, ed. 5-6. (Spring-Summer, 2003): 64-67. A special issue on Chicana/o Literature and Culture entitled “Rompiendo Fronteras: Literatura y Cultura Chicanas” published in Islas Canarias, Spain.
Film and Book Reviews
- “Racializing Queerness, Queering Nationalism.” Rev. of Reading Chican@ Like a Queer: The De-Mastery of Desire by Sandra K. Soto. Chicana/Latina Studies: The Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social. 11.2 (Spring 2012): 160-165.
- Rev. of With Her Machete in Her Hand: Reading Chicana Lesbians. Journal of the History of Sexuality. Austin, University of Texas Press. 20.2 (May 2011): 399-401.
- Rev. of “Tomboy.” Chicana/Latina Studies: The Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social. 8, no 1-2. (Spring 2009): 60-64. An animated Children’s film based on a book by Karleen Pendelton-Jiménez.
Creative Writing: Calavera (Day of the Dead Satirical) Poems
- November 2004: “25 años (25th Anniversary of Zoot Suit)” & “Dándole Shine al West Side”
- November 2005: “La nueva doctora” & “Romance con Agustín Lara.”
- November 2006: “Marcha de los inmigrantes” & “Serenata a Lydia Mendoza”
- November 2007: “Fiesta Sorpresa” & “Los Veinte de Esperanza” & “La Bruja Pitaya” (co-authored)
- November 2008: “Los tres reyes”
- November 2009: “Vale Antonia,” “Nuestra científica sonorense,” & “El Mundo Zurdo 2009”
- November 2010: “Concierto maravilloso” & “Lo que nos hace falta: Esperanza, justicia y paz”
- November 2011: “No habrá más celebración” & “Ni Buika, ni agua ni mujeres”
- November 2012: “Ramney & Co” (co-authored) & “La Doctora Norma E. Cantú”
- November 2013: “Texas A-zu-lado” & “Obaca (S)care”
- November 2014: “Ánimo y concierto”
- November 2015: “Arturo Madrid y su júbilo” & “Serenata Mexicana”
- November 2016: “Marchas anti-gays en México” & “El odio anda suelto”
- November 2017: “Los huracanes del golf-o” & “Mundo de muros”
- November 2018: “Tomás & Dudley 50 años” & “Qué horror, A-Káva-lo”
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: Inventing Mexico
- First-Year Experience: 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 Distinguished University, Community, and Professional Service Award, Trinity University.
- 2018 Mellon Grant for Undergraduate Summer Research: Acting to Combat Stigma Surrounding HIV and AIDS Testing and Treatment (Theatre for Social Change)
- 2017 Trinity Academic Leave
- 2016 Mellon Grant for Undergraduate Summer Research: Female Voices in Independent Latin American Cinema
- 2015 Trinity Summer Research Stipend
- 2013 Trinity Information Literacy Grant for “Introduction to Queer Studies”
- 2012 Trinity Academic Leave
- 2009 Trinity Summer Research Stipend
- 2008 Trinity Information Literacy Grant for “Chicana/o Short Story”
- 2007 Lennox Seminar Award with Drs. Rosana Blanco-Cano and Arturo Madrid for a seminar series on transnational Mexican popular culture
- 2007 Trinity Summer Research Stipend
- 2006 Languages Across the Curriculum Course Development Grant
- 2006 San Antonio Telemundo: Woman of the Week
- 2005 Trinity 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
Trinity 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 “Women of Color Faculty Reception” with Vice President D. Jones, 2017.
- Co-organizer “Women of Color Faculty Lunches with Dr. Norma Cantú. 2017.
- Co-organizer “All Women Faculty Reception,” 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’s and Gender Studies (WAGS),
- Member of the Faculty Senate, 2007-2010.
- McNair Scholars Program Tutorial Faculty, 2007-2010, 2012.
- “Difficult Dialogues” Summer Workshop participant, 2006, 2007.
- Member of the “Difficult Dialogues” grant writing committee. Awarded by the Ford Foundation, 2005.
Professional Involvement
- Inaugural director of the Globla Latinx Studies major, 2019
- Co-Facilitator of inaugural Dream Lead Institute, Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Trinity University lead by Professor Juan Sepúlveda. 2018-2019. Leadership Workshops for Thirty Dreamers across the United States.
- Editorial Review Board Member for 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 Chicana/Latina Studies: The Journal of MALCS, Since Summer 2017.
- Reviewer of articles for the academic journals: Chicana/Latina Studies (2016), Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies, (2015 and 2017), Latino Studies (2015), and Diálogo: An Interdisciplinary Journal of the Center for Latino Research at DePaul University. Chicago, IL, 2014, 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: Palgrave Mcmillan (2016, 2017), University of Chicago (2012, 2017), University of Arizona (2016), University of Texas, (2005, 2012), Kórima (2014).
- Interim Board Member. Association for Jotería 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): Latino Studies Section-Outstanding Article Award Committee member, National Competition, 2016.
- Copy edited an article in Spanish for 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 “El Mundo Zurdo” international conference. The Society for the Study of Gloria Anzaldúa (SSGA). San Antonio, TX. Fall 2005 to present.
- Member of Master Thesis Committee. Crystal Serrano’s 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 Trinity University as a Delegate at President Nancy “Rusty” Barceló’s inauguration ceremony. Northern New Mexico College. Española. October 2010.
- Co-organized round table entitled “Doing Work that Matters a MALCS (Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social) Roundtable.” 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 Barceló’s Compact Disc entitled “Songs from my Living Room.” December 2008-2009.
- Co-Sponsored the first African-American Women’s 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. Trinity University. Spring 2008.
- Co-organized literary reading by Chicana writer Ana Castillo in collaboration with UTSA’s Women’s 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. Cantú for the organization’s newsletter. December 2007.
- Coordinated Dr. Norma E. Cantú’s 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. La Jornada Semanal: “El spanglish: la frontera del idioma (Spanglish: The Border of Language). October 2007.
- Chaired a panel entitled “Recovering Pre-Civil Rights Latina Feminists.” Western History Association/Recovering the U. S. Hispanic Literary Heritage Project Conference. St. Louis, Missouri, October 2006.
- Organized a history and literature panel entitled: “Performance and History: Reclaiming Brown Voices in the U. S. Southwest: The Cases of Ramona, Fabiola Cabeza de Baca, Napa Newspapers, and La Chata Noloesca.” 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 “Brown Bodies: Women, War, Violence, and Sexuality,” at the Annual Meeting of the National Association for Chicana/Chicano Studies (NACCS), Los Angeles, CA, April 2003.
- Speaker at Queer Sensitivity Workshop: titled “Coming Out to our Familias,” University of California, Santa Barbara, February 18, 2003.
- Member of the Interdisciplinary Chicano/Latino/Mexicano Research Focus Group, University of California, Santa Barbara. 2002-2003.
- Member of the Teatro de las Américas, Chicano Studies/Center for Chicano Studies. University of California, Santa Barbara, 2002-2003.
- Organized talk/book-signing event for Dr. Judith Halberstam’s 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 “Otro Corazón 2” Participant Group to Honor San Antonio Distinguished Residents: Dr. Tomás 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. Anzaldúa. Galería 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 Inés de la Cruz. Galería E.V.A. (Ecos y Voces del Arte). San Antonio, TX. October 8 and 15, 2016.
- “Yo la peor de todas.” Introduction to performer María Elena Gaitán “Chola con ‘Cello.” Sor Juana Festival. Gallería 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’s presentation on “Human Sex Trafficking Reform.” Trinity University, 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 “Wrecking Ball.” San Antonio, TX. January 2014.
- Master of Ceremony for Event “Homenaje a Eva Garza y las divas de la canción mexicana.” 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’s 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. Summer 2011.
- Bihl Haus Art Exhibit, collaboration. Presentation on the work of Chicano gay artist David Zamora Casas, June 2010.
- Volunteer for Café 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 “El Mundo Zurdo” International Conference. May 2009.
- Participant in art exhibit “Gema: Dando A Luz al Arte de Mujer: A Collection of Intimate Exhibitions Giving Light to Women’s Voices.” 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, “Local Genius, performer” and volunteered in “Los MacArturos” a City-Wide Latina/o MacArthur Award Reunion Events. October 2007.
- Coordinated with Esperanza Peace and Justice Center for Dr. Antonia Castañeda’s retirement event. May 2007.
- Coordinated events with Esperanza Peace and Justice Center for Adelina Anthony’s visit to San Antonio. March 2007.
- Organized a group of 150 students from Colonial Hills Elementary to view the Ballet de Monterrey. March 2006.
- Liaison for Cinefestival, Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center. Spring 2005-Fall 2006.
- Co-Sponsor of Mural Art Project, San Anto Cultural Arts Center. Spring 2005.
- Co-Sponsor of the Tenth Annual Latina Letters Conference. St. Mary’s 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, “Dale Shine al West-Side,” sponsored by the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. October 2004.
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