Meet the people who make MSI possible.
Co-Directors
MSI Faculty Director and Chair of LLAS
Alexandra Puerto is Associate Professor of History and Chair of Latinx and Latin American Studies. She specializes in the history of race, science, and medicine in twentieth century Latin America, especially Mexico and its borderlands, with particular interests in indigenous, migrant, and...
Director, Intercultural Community Center
Schedule a meeting with me: https://calendly.com/vgonzalezwright2/meet
Vanessa Gonzalez-Wright (she, her, ella) is a proud native of Highland Park in Northeast Los Angeles. Growing up a few blocks away from campus, her local community has always included Oxy. Vanessa is a Latinx Macro Social...
Faculty
Professor, Critical Theory and Social Justice
Critical Theory & Social Justice
Mary Christianakis is a professor of language, literacy, and culture. She studies literacy development, language, and discourse from a critical sociocritical perspective.
Associate Professor, Spanish and French Studies
Spanish & French Studies
Viviana Beatriz MacManus’s research and teaching focuses on Latin American and Latinx feminist theory, literature, film, and cultural studies.
Associate Professor, Sociology
Sociology
Dr. Mora teaches courses on masculinities, youth cultures, education, immigration, violence, & social inequality
Teaching Assistants
Pronouns: she/her
Class year: 2026
Major: undeclared, but interested in CTSJ, Spanish, and Education
Social justice leader, past or present, who incites the changemaker in you: Valeria Luiselli
Favorite ice cream or sorbet flavor: mint chocolate chip
Pronouns: he/him
Class year: 2024
Major: CTSJ
Social justice leader, past or present, who incites the changemaker in you: MLK
Favorite ice cream or sorbet flavor: chocolate
Pronouns: she/they
Class Year: 2024
Major: Black Studies and CTSJ
Minor: Education
Social justice leader, past or present, who incites the changemaker in you: Noname
Favorite ice cream or sorbet flavor: Lemon