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Community Resources

We've put together a list of campus, local, and national resources on harassment and discrimination, immigration, and wellness to support our community.

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Professor José A. de la Garza Valenzuela's book shows how ‘lawful fictions’ are used to manage immigration, citizenship

Professor José A. de la Garza Valenzuela looks at the experiences of queer migrants, and at how immigration practices shape particular fictions about them, in his new book “Queer in a Legal Sense: Brown Citizenship and Other Lawful Fictions.” Read full story Professor José A. de la Garza Valenzuela's book shows how ‘lawful fictions’ are used to manage immigration, citizenship
Professor Natalie Lira receives Humanities Research Lab Award from HRI and OUR

Professor Natalie Lira was awarded the Humanities Research Lab Award by the Humanities Research Institute and Office of Undergraduate Research to transform the course LLS 100: Introduction to Latina/o Studies into a local community-based research experience. Read full story Professor Natalie Lira receives Humanities Research Lab Award from HRI and OUR
Professor Elena Guzman joins the Department of Latina/Latino Studies

This spring, the Department of Latina/Latino Studies welcomes assistant professor Elena Guzman. Professor Guzman's research studies ritual art and performance in the Afro-Caribbean. She also creates films that focus on the metaphysical and ethereal experiences of African diaspora spirituality. Read a Q&A with Guzman to learn more about her research. Read full story Professor Elena Guzman joins the Department of Latina/Latino Studies

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Why Study Latina/Latino Studies?

Professor Mirelsie Velázquez shares the value of the major, favorite spots in Champaign-Urbana, and why the Latina/Latino studies department is the best kept secret on campus in an interview with the College of LAS.

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Highlighted Courses

Intro Latina/Latino Studies

Interdisciplinary introduction to the basis for a Latina/Latino ethnicity in the United States.

LLS 100

Latina/os on the Bronze Screen

Critical, historical, and theoretical exploration of Latina/o representations in U.S. film from the 1900s to the present. Examination of cinematic representations as well as the social, political, and cultural context in which those representations are produced.

LLS 250

Latinas/os & Public Policy

Examines the effectiveness of current U.S. public policies in addressing the social, economic, and political problems affecting Latina/o individuals and communities. Specifically, it evaluates current policy in the areas of public assistance, fair housing, criminal justice, immigration enforcement, and reproductive health.

LLS 368

Commodifying Difference

An interdisciplinary examination of how racial, ethnic and gender difference is negotiated through media and popular culture, and how racial, ethnic and gendered communities use cultural forms to express identity and difference.

LLS 435

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Upcoming events

Alumni spotlight: Celina Villanueva, '08, Illinois State Senator

This past summer I was given the opportunity to interview LLS alum Celina Villanueva (BA, ’08, Latina/Latino studies) who represents Illinois' 12th District in the Illinois State Senate. Sen. Villanueva represents much of the southwest side of Chicago, including her home neighborhood of Little Village and other neighborhoods such as Pilsen, Bridgeport, and Brighton Park. She began attending U of I in 2003 and graduated in 2008 with a bachelor’s in Latina/o studies. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she went on to work for the Illinois Migrant Coucil and the Illinois Coalition...

Faculty spotlight: Gabriela G. Corona Valencia

Gabriela G. Corona Valencia explores the bridge between 20th-century eugenic policy in the American Southwest and the contemporary sex education discourse disseminated to Chicana/Latina girls in K-12 public schools in East Los Angeles.

Department of Latina/Latino Studies