Project Director
Dr. José R. Díaz-Garayúa
Dr. Díaz-Garayúa (Ph.D., Geography, Kent State University) is an Associate Professor of Human Geography and Geographic Information (GIS) Systems, Director of the GIS, and Co-Director of CASA | Center for Applied Spatial Analysis and serves as a board member of the CSU GIS Specialty Center. His research focuses on inequities with emphasis on race, ethnicity, and place. In addition, Dr. Díaz-Garayúa is interested in the intersection of Geography (Geographic Thought and Spatial Thinking) and the Humanities (particularly the human experience and cultural studies).
Humanities Experts
Dr. Shannon Stevens
Dr. Stevens (Ph.D., Communication Studies, University of Minnesota) is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at California State University, Stanislaus, advises the student newspaper. A former journalist, she is a feminist rhetorician who researches media, popular culture, and policy. In addition to her podcast, Central Valley Politics, Dr. Stevens’ co-authored book, Misogynistic Backlash to Women-Strong Films, is due for publication in early 2020.
Dr. Brenda L. Ortiz Loyola
Dr. Ortiz-Loyola (Ph.D. Modern Languages, UCLA) works on Latin American and Latino Literature and Cultural Studies. Dr. Ortiz Loyola has taught the course of Cuban Culture through Fiction and Film at University of Louisville. In addition, she has served in the Latin American Film Festival at the University of Louisville. Dr. Ortiz Loyola has taught the course Latino Diaspora for the Ethnic Studies Program at and teaches for the Program of Modern Languages at Stanislaus State and the Department of Literature & Language Arts at Modesto Junior College.
The conference directory wishes to express appreciation and gratitude to:
Sandra Plascencia-Rodriguez
Sandra Plascencia-Rodriguez, the primary translator for our videos, is proud to call herself a first-generation Xicana from Tulare, CA. A Political Science major in her senior year at Stanislaus State, Ms. Plascencia-Rodríguez works as a writer, translator, and the “La Letra Ñ” section editor at the Signal, Stan State’s student news outlet. She is also a community activist and ultimately strives to make her community a better and safer place for all.
Office of Information Technology, Learning Service
The Office of Information Technology, Learning Services, their expertise, support, and professionalism. In particular, thanks go out to Jerry Anderson, Lead Media Production Specialist; Kevin Gasaway, Media Production Specialist; and three student production specialists—Conor Deming, Kat Larios Ramos, and Samantha Sweeting. It is thanks to the hard work of Mr. Anderson, Mr. Gasaway, and their student staff that we are able to make this conference available to an international audience on our website.
Updated: July 11, 2023