Emma P茅rez, a new associate professor in the ethnic studies department at the University of Colorado at Boulder, is taking a novel approach to documenting the history of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the southwest.
P茅rez's research and scholarship focuses on "queer" history and studies from gendered and racial perspectives. Her book currently in progress, "Queering the Borderlands," focuses on historical and literary documents of gays and lesbians in the southwest United States in the late 1800s and early 20th century.
She also is writing a historical novel about the Texas Rebellion.
"In my mind there are few historical accounts about the daily lives of Mexican women and men whose situations changed dramatically after Anglo-Texans colonized Indian and Mexican Territory," Perez said. "While documents may seem scarce, scarcer still are the Chicano/a scholars investigating our many histories - gay or straight. I also believe novels can explain history through the lives of common folks."
P茅rez's teaching and research interests include Chicana/Latina Studies in the United States and Mexico, gay/lesbian history, cultural studies, history and theory, feminist theory, postcolonial theory, women of color in the United States and creative writing.
She is committed to involving students in interdisciplinary research on race and gender issues. Her classes this fall include "Chicana Feminisms and Knowledge" and "Chicano History Through Film" and she will teach a creative writing class this spring.
"Emma P茅rez is absolutely in the top tier of scholars in her field and an outstanding teacher," said Ward Churchill, professor and chair of ethnic studies. "Not only the department of ethnic studies but the Boulder campus as a whole is extremely fortunate that she accepted our offer of a position here."
P茅rez, a tenured professor from the University of Texas, El Paso, has extensive experience in academia. Before joining the faculty at CU-Boulder, she served as chair of the history department, as well as assistant vice president for graduate studies and director of the Institute of Oral History. She served as University Distinguished Visiting Professor at William Paterson University in New Jersey and has held visiting professor and lecturer posts at the University of California, Pomona College and the University of Minnesota.
P茅rez earned her doctoral, master's and bachelor's degrees at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her doctorate is in history.
Her books include "The Decolonial Imaginary: Writing Chicanas Into History" and the novel "Gulf Dreams."
She is the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, National Research Council Award and the Rockefeller Fellowship at the CU-Boulder Center for Studies on Ethnicity and Race in America.
The CU-Boulder department of ethnic studies provides a cohesive framework for the interdisciplinary study of ethnic and racial groups and promotes research and critical examination of culture, history and contemporary issues from national and global perspectives.
For more information call (303) 492-8852 or visit the Web site at