Spotlight on Dr. Luis Osbaldo Esparza

Luis Osbaldo Esparza (pronouns he/him/el) is originally from Tototlán, Jalisco, Mexico, but raised in the Inland Empire region of California. He identifies as Queer, Joto, Xicano, Nepantlero, and as a transnational activist. He began his academic journey at San Bernardino Valley Community College. Subsequently, he transferred to California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), where he graduated with a BA in Media Studies and an MA in Communication Studies. He finished his formal education at the University of New Mexico (UNM), and was the first recipient of a PhD degree in Chicana and Chicano Studies in UNM's history. He is honored to now form part of the Queer Studies Program at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) as an Assistant Professor. In addition to Queer Studies, he also teaches ChicanX Studies courses in the CSUN Chicana and Chicano Studies Department.

Prior to CSUN, Luis served as a part-time faculty member at CSUSB, UNM, and Central New Mexico Community College where he taught Public Speaking; Interpersonal Communication; Introduction to Chicana and Chicano Studies; and Raza, Genders, and Sexualities. His pedagogy style is greatly influenced by decolonial thinkers like Paulo Freire, Frantz Fanon, Gloria Anzaldúa, bell hooks, Enrique Dussel, and Ramón Grosfoguel. With his research, activist work, and methods of teaching, he seeks to humanize and empower himself, his students, and our community in order to liberate and transform our world. He hopes to one day see a world free of Eurocentrism, racism, hierarchization, homophobia, transphobia, machismo, patriarchy, and any other kind of system of oppression. Un mundo Trans-moderno (Dussel, 1993). Un mundo sin fronteras! 

His experiences as a Joto of color have ultimately shaped the direction of his research. Much of his research is centered around decolonial theories and methodologies. That is, de-centralizing European ways of knowing as 'universal knowledge' and centering subaltern and indigenous epistemologies. His primary areas of focus include centering the testimonios of rural Jotería de los ranchos y los pueblos, Queer Indigenous studies, Afro-Jotería history, and Queer subversive complicity. His most recent project involves his transnational activism in Mexico. Particularly, the organization of the first-ever Jotería Pride March in pueblo of Tototlán, Jalisco, Mexico. Dr. Esparza also dedicates time to write poetry that depicts decolonial and Jotería counter-stories. He has published his scholarly and creative works in various journals including Borderlines, Chamisa, and Regeneracion. For more information on Dr. Esparza can be found on his website.