Dr. Omi Salas-SantaCruz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education, Culture, & Society at the University of Utah. They earned their PhD in Education with a designated emphasis in Critical Theory and Gender, Women, & Sexuality from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master's degree in Sociology from Columbia University. Their intellectual and community work is rooted in decolonial and Latinx trans feminisms, focusing on trans* and queer of color space-making and resistant practices. Growing up as a trans-fronterizx along the Tijuana-San Diego border deeply informs their research, teaching, and praxis. Their current work interrogates the intersections of race, Latinidad, trans inclusion epistemologies, and embodied practices of being.

Dr. DiPietro works at the intersection of decolonial feminism, women of color thinking, Latinx/Afro-Latinx studies, and trans* studies. With a transdisciplinary approach, they engage anthropology, human geography, and philosophy. They are one of the co-editors of Speaking Face to Face: The Visionary Philosophy of María Lugones (SUNY 2019) and their single-author manuscript, Sideways Selves, The Politics of Transing Matter Across the Américas, is forthcoming with the University of Texas Press. They collaborate with various organizations committed to social justice, including the Democratizing Knowledge Collective at Syracuse University, the Association for Jotería Arts, Activism, and Scholarship (AJAAS), and the travesti collectives Damas de Hierro and Futuro TransGenérico. DiPietro is the director of undergraduate studies in the department of women’s and gender studies and the director of the LGBTQ studies program at Syracuse University.

Maya Chinchilla is a writer, media maker, and the author of The Cha Cha Files: A Chapina Poética. Her work explores themes of historical memory, witness, heartbreak, tenderness, and alternative futures.  Her writing has been published in Latino Poetry: The Library of America Anthology, Mujeres de Maíz en Movimiento, and The Jota Anthology and is a recipient of the 2023 Mellon Foundation US Latino Digital Humanities Grant. She is also the editor of the forthcoming anthology, CentroMaricondas: A Queer and Trans Central American Anthology.

Maya has a rich background in media, having hosted the interview talk show Live and Queer, produced by the Queer Cultural Center; co-hosted the podcast Trek Table, and produced the digital space odyssey: Central American Unicorns in Space. As a lecturer, she teaches Creative Writing, English, Media Studies, and Chicana/Latina/o/x Studies at several San Francisco Bay Area-based universities. Beyond academia, she works independently as a facilitator, creativity coach, and guest speaker, and is available to present readings and workshops in your small town or big city.

A founding member of AJAAS, Maya served on the board as an artistic liaison from 2017 to 2024, furthering her lifelong mission to create spaces for artists, visionaries, and changemakers to build and thrive.

"I believe in the heart of the work that AJAAS has set out to do. I come to AJAAS as someone who has not always felt at home in some of our community spaces—as a Central American writer, poet, performer, educator, disabled femme, and part-time introvert. But that discomfort is a message: it is our job to push the boundaries of our worlds, to make ourselves at home, and to carve out space in places that don’t always welcome us. This is an ongoing project, and not always an easy one.

I thrive on collaboration. I believe everyone has a unique skill to contribute, regardless of their education or life path. I believe that consent is sexy, and I reject models of scarcity and chingón-queerer-woke'r-than-thou politics. My vision is for all of us to thrive—planting seeds for future jotería through joy, consciousness-raising, hard work, payasadas, and pleasure."

Ángel de Jesus González, Ed.D. (he/they/elle) is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education Administration and Leadership (HEAL) at Fresno State University. As a first-generation queer, Latinx, joto, they engage their scholarship through post-structuralist and transformative paradigms rooted in Xicana/Latina feminists epistemologies. Dr. Gonzalez’s research agenda focuses on interrogating power relations within higher education systems embedded with cisheteropatriarchy and compulsory genderism by examining how these racialized structures engage minoritized peoples broadly and Queer and/or Trans People of Color (QTPOC) communities specifically across varying roles (i.e. students, leaders, faculty) within organizational contexts as way to unearth how structural inequities are maintained and reproduced via policy formulation and implementation.

Marco Cerqueira (he, él, ele) holds a Phd in Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education (CSSTE) from Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, (Wash.). He is an assistant professor in the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi. A journalist from Brazil, he identifies as a jotería/queer Afro-Latinx. His scholarship aligns with jotería, feminist and arts-based methods with a special focus on Gloria Anzaldúa’s concept of autohistoria-teoría.

Gabriel Pulido was born and raised in Sacramento, California, and first became involved with creative writing in the youth poetry slam scene. While at UC Santa Cruz Gabriel utilized classroom lessons to fuel his creative writing endeavors. Recently, he received his doctorate in Higher Education (with a double minor in African American and Diaspora Studies & Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies) from the Pennsylvania State University. Gabriel is a transdisciplinary scholar whose work often travels across multiple fields. Ultimately, Gabriel seeks to perform the work while honoring the rich histories and legacies that scholar-activists have fought for. Presently, Gabriel has three lines of research commitments: 1. Artistic Performance and Retention in Higher Education 2. Mentorship, Relationality, and Belonging and 3. Arts-based methodologies and activism in social science research. Gabriel’s academic and creative writing often intersect and find a home at the center of healing. When not writing, Gabriel can be found near a body of water dreaming of becoming just as free.

Ms. Reina (CÁMO) Basquiat Cemi'no (she/ella/it), known artistically as LA REINA TAÍNA, is an entrepreneurial Creative Director, Cultural Bearer, and Thought Leader. As the founder of LA REINA TAÍNA, LLC, she blends Afro-Caribbean rhythms, experimental soundscapes, and decolonial narratives into transformative multimedia projects. Through her groundbreaking music and performance works, including albums like TOCA CORAZÓN and IM ON AUX NOW, she challenges traditional narratives while amplifying underrepresented voices. In addition to her creative direction, Ms. Reina hosts the VAMOS HABLAR INGLÉS podcast, where she explores the intersections of culture, politics, and art through an Afro-Jotx lens. Notably, her episode on "La Modernidad de Latinoamérica: Los Tres Blanquis," where she explores the effects of white supremacy and systemic inequality in Latinx and Afro-Caribbean contexts, is a standout, offering a decolonial critique that aligns with her ongoing advocacy for marginalized communities.

Ms. Reina holds a B.A. in International and Public Affairs from Brown University, where she began to shape her academic and artistic pursuits. Her work redefines the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, citizenship, and class, with a focus on the lived experiences of marginalized communities. Over the past three years, Ms. Reina expanded Jotería Studies into Afro-Jotería, an academic framework that centers Afro-Latinx, Afro-Caribbean, and Afro-Indigenous Queer and Trans individuals. Afro-Jotería challenges Western binaries, advocates for justice, and provides a platform for voices and narratives often silenced in traditional academic and artistic spheres. Visit www.lareinataina.com to learn more! 

Izel Coatlicue Lemus is a Chicana woman. Her pronouns are she/her/hers. Izel graduated from California State University Fullerton with a B.A. in psychology, but soon after discovered that she had an interest in providing to her community. Izel comes from a family that are danzantes and performs across California to share with people what the danza azteca community is. Within she has found that activism is with in this niche community and there are ways to unite danza azteca and activism.

Sergio writes from the core of who he is: joto, Latinx, feminist, hijo de (son of) a first- generation Madre (mother) and Mexican Immigrant Padre (father), Jotería scholar, and activist. My connection to Jotería emerges from my experiences navigating the Ivory Tower and trying to understand where I exist within this space. As a scholar-activist, I focus on co-creating counternarratives of queer and trans Latinx/a/o individuals within higher education.

Jaime Korima Rodriguez is a disabled, Two Spirit, trans, Jota, descendent of Cali, Colombian peoples and of the Raramuri of Chihuahua, Mexico. They are the first person ever, in their family to graduate high school and earn a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and Latino Studies Minor Degree at San Francisco State University.

Jaime has always been a writer, spoken word poet and storyteller. Jaime’s passion centers those most marginalized as those with the most powerful stories to be heard. Jaime’s works highlight the perspectives of queer and trans, Brown LatinE peoples, at the intersections of brujeria, Spanglish, poverty, sexuality, queer joy, sex work, disability and mental health.

As an avid writer, Jaime’s various works can be found in The HuffPost, Rooted in Rights, Rest For Resistance, La Bloga, 580 Split, Sin Cesar and TransFaith. Jaime has been featured in The HuffPost Latino Voices and in ELLE Magazine. Most recently, Jaime Korima Rodriguez collection of writings can be found in their Chapbook, Mala Hierba Nunca Muere, published by Bottlecap Press. For the latest by Jaime, follow them on their Instagram @Tortillerx_Tales.

Sofia is from Los Angeles and has been working with AJAAS since 2019, starting as a volunteer for the Portland, OR conference. My background is in coordinating media representation by QTBIPOC in various library, archive, radio, and social spaces. My passion for uplifting QTBIPOC voices and displaying accurate representation in various mediums drives me to continue building relationships and discovering new avenues to support my community.

Dr. Anita Tijerina Revilla is a muxerista and joteria activist-scholar, Professor, and Chair of CSULA’s Department of Chicana(o) and Latina(o) Studies. Her research focuses on student movements and social justice education, specifically in the areas of Chicana/Latina, immigrant, feminist and queer rights activism. Her expertise is in the areas of Jotería (Queer and Latinx) Studies, Chicanx Education, Chicana/Latina Feminism, and Critical Race & Ethnic Studies. She is a Harlandale High School graduate from the Southside of San Antonio and the first in her family to go to college. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and master’s degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, she earned her doctorate from UCLA Graduate School of Education in Social Sciences and Comparative Education with an emphasis in Race and Ethnic Studies.

CJ (she/her), is a visual storyteller rooted in Los Angeles. Currently pursuing a degree in criminal justice at California State University, Los Angeles, I am dedicated to deepening my understanding of diversity and inclusion.

As the Vice President of Administration for ASI at Cal State LA, I am committed to enhancing community engagement and supporting various initiatives on campus. In this role, I work closely with different student communities to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met.

In addition to my role with ASI, I am deeply involved in public health initiatives. Working with Advocates for Youth, I focus on abortion storytelling and reproductive access in collaboration with Planned Parenthood. I have participated in impactful campaigns such as YHES 4 Condoms SB 541 and am a member of the Condom Collective. Through these efforts, I strive to improve sexual and reproductive health education and resources for the youth in my community here in Los Angeles.

Jesus is a dedicated and results-driven Communications Strategist with over four years of experience in developing and implementing comprehensive communication plans to enhance brand visibility, reputation, and engagement. Adept at combining strategic thinking with creative execution to drive impactful campaigns across different social platforms (i.e. Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok). Proven track record of successfully managing multiple projects simultaneously, exceeding targets, and delivering measurable results. Strong communicator with exceptional interpersonal skills, capable of building and maintaining positive relationships with clients, stakeholders, and media contacts. Experienced in handling media requests, media pitches, coordinating interviews with organization spokespeople, and media training. Seeking to leverage expertise in communication strategy, media relations, and digital marketing to contribute to the success of forward-thinking organizations.

Treasurer Bio

Ezekiel Acosta (he/el) is a PhD Candidate in the American Studies Department at the University of New Mexico. His concentration fields are Central American Studies, Archival Studies, and Sexuality and Gender in Latinx Studies, and his research analyzes visual art and archival materials. He is of Guatemalan, Mexican, and Puerto Rican descent.

Nancy Liliana Godoy (She/Her/Hers) is the Director of Community-Driven Archives Initiative and Associate Archivist of ASU Library's Chicano/a Research Collection. She has received several grants including one from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation ($450,000) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services ($534,975) to engage and empower historically marginalized communities in Arizona. Godoy is the recipient of the Outreach Services Award (Arizona Library Association 2019), the Movers and Shakers - Advocates Award (Library Journal 2020), and the Archival Innovator Award (Society of American Archivists 2022). In 2021, Godoy published “Community-Driven Archives: Conocimiento, Healing, and Justice” in the Journal of Critical Library and Information Studies (special issue on radical empathy in archival practice). The manuscript discusses how Gloria Anzaldúa’s path to “conocimiento”, a Spanish word for knowledge, can be used to decolonize the mind, body, and soul of marginalized communities as well as reimagine 21st century archives and memory keeping.

Lizeth (Liz) Zepeda (she/ella) is originally from Santa Ana, Orange County, California. She is the university archivist at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. She holds a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University of Arizona School of Information. Her research and archival interests include working with BIPOC communities, outreach programming, community and queer(ing) archives. When she is not working, she likes to go on hikes/walks with her partner and dog, Monita, listen to audiobooks, and cross-stitch.

Alfonso Ayala III is a proud, queer, sober Chicano. He is currently a doctoral student at The University of Texas at Austin, pursuing a degree in Mexican American and Latina/o Studies. His research interests stem from his own experiences with his identity, sexuality, and sobriety, and he's committed to a research agenda that humanizes Queers of Color living in recovery from drug addiction. He thinks frequently about queer Chicana/x/o sobriety, identity, desire, and spirituality; embodied memory; storytelling and autoethnography; Queer of Color Critique; and, dis-respectability politics. When he's not doing school stuff, he is active in the sober community, enjoys working out, likes museums and art shows, and loves watching TV. He is currently on a quest to become a cinephile, so would love any movie recommendations! He also loves spending time with his nephews and niece in San Antonio!

Veronica Garcia was born in Los Angeles and raised on the U.S./Mexico border in El Paso, Texas. She has over 20 years of experience working with social justice groups and has supported hundreds in building their grassroots fundraising capacity. Veronica organized the Paso del Norte OUT Fund, a grant-making initiative of El Paso’s LGBTQA community (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, and our allies) and the Detained Migrant Solidarity Committee, a group committed to ending unjust and inhumane migrant detention across the southwest U.S. border region. In addition to extensive real-world experience in the nonprofit sector, she has a B.A. in Sociology and a Masters degree in Nonprofit Management.

Currently, Veronica leads the Wealth Reclamation Academy of Practitioners (WRAP), a national network of social justice grassroots fundraisers recontextualizing how organizers think about and practice movement resourcing in the U.S. Her work with WRAP centers Tool No.4, a curriculum she co-designed as a loose incense blend of ten powerful plant allies. The curriculum's recipe includes medicinal herbs, cured tree resins, dried roots, and seeds gifted from Amaranth, an ancient plantcestor. Tool No.4 is formulated to stimulate ancestral healing and calibrated to a Just Transition.

Joanna Núñez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Women’s and Gender Studies at Sacramento State. She is a queer Chicana feminist activist scholar. In 2019, she earned her Ph.D. in Feminist Studies at the University of Minnesota. Her dissertation was titled “Mi Mamá me Enseño! Teaching and Learning Mexicana and Chicana Feminisms in the Home.” Her work explores the connection between home and intimate community building practices, particularly those within queer and feminist communities of color, in facilitating movements for social transformation. Her most recent publications can be found in The Handbook of Latinos in Education and Transmovimientos: Latinx Queer Migrations, Bodies, and Spaces.

Roberto C. Orozco (he/him/él), PhD, is a Presidential Postdoctoral Associate in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities. He is a queer Muxerista and originally from Sioux City, Iowa! In 2022, he earned his PhD in Higher Education from Rutgers University–New Brunswick. His dissertation was titled, “Aquí Entre Nos: Identity and Socio-Political Consciousness Development of Queer Latinx/a/o College Student Activists through the Muxerista Activist Consciousness Development Framework”. His research explores questions around race, ethnicity, gender, and sexuality with relation to college student activism and student development, queer resistance, and queer worldmaking in and outside of higher education contexts. Roberto has received multiple awards for his research and service including the 2020 Bevier Dissertation Fellowship and the 2021 Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship.