Meet some of our Critical Theory & Social Justice (CTSJ) majors.
Andrea Ibarra
Hometown: Altadena, CA
Majors: CTSJ, politics
What do you find most compelling about studying CTSJ?
I’m compelled by the use of theory as a framework to understand the relationship between social structures and political ideology, and how the concept of race and ethnicity is used to analyze the way systemic racism and other structural injustices have been maintained for generations. There are no limitations in the major, as you're able to take a variety of courses that allow you to understand the structure of our society through an interdisciplinary approach. The department is infused with knowledgeable, compassionate and dedicated professors who create their classes around developing your critical thinking while applying your understanding to historical and modern issues.
What was your motivation to major in CTSJ?
Going into Oxy, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in law, but I wasn't sure what major would ultimately make me a strong candidate for law school. I was introduced to CTSJ Profs. Christianakis and MacManus the summer before my first year through the Multicultural Summer Institute (MSI). Being taught by these professors along with Prof. Mora gave me a deeper understanding of what I was looking for in professors and, ultimately, my education at Oxy. Since my first meeting with my now-adviser Prof. Christianakis, I knew CTSJ would be the major to not only prepare me to prosper academically, but to grow as a critical thinker going into the legal field. My Critical Race Theory class was my introduction to understanding how historical racial subordination continues to affect our social and institutional structures and requires an intersectional lens. The immense support from professors within and outside the classroom has created a platform for me to continuously strive as a student and overall individual by challenging myself to go beyond my reach.
The immense support from professors within and outside the classroom has created a platform for me to continuously strive as a student and overall individual by challenging myself to go beyond my reach.
What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to put you on this path?
After graduating from Oxy, I plan to attend law school to obtain my JD and practice law in California as a civil rights attorney. My background as the daughter of immigrants compelled me to dedicate my life to serve and uplift marginalized voices while advocating for systemic change. After practicing civil rights law, I would like to transition to international civil rights law to combat systemic issues through an international approach. The liberal arts approach has deepened my commitment to social justice transnationally by applying an intersectional lens to the law and its effects on marginalized groups. Participating in a wide range of courses with professors from various backgrounds and approaches have broadened my intellectual curiosity about the law. Broadening my learning through an interdisciplinary lens has been essential to my advocacy efforts within the legal profession and community mobilization that I will carry with me throughout law school and beyond.
The liberal arts approach has deepened my commitment to social justice by applying an intersectional lens to the law and its effects on marginalized groups.
Have you taken part in any student research opportunities through Oxy?
In the second semester of my first year, I had the opportunity to visit Mexico City during my spring break through the ASP Research Travel Grant. Inspired by my Critical Race Theory class and my time interning at the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights in the Family Unity Legal Department, I became interested in developing research on the effects of gender-based violence against migrant women. Through the support of Prof. MacManus as my mentor and Karla Hernández, manager of the Undergraduate Research Center (URC), I narrowed my focus on gender-based violence to migrant women in the context of Mexico as a border country to the United States. During my time in Mexico City, I collaborated with the Instituto para las Mujeres en la Migración, a Mexican NGO advocating for the rights of women in migration. This experience has been invaluable to my growth as I gained valuable insights into Mexico’s legal system and the intersecting struggles women endure during their migration journey. The continuous support from my professors and mentors has enabled me to continue my research as it is crucial to pursue tangible solutions for addressing these systemic inequalities.
Levi Lee
Hometown: Hong Kong
Majors: CTSJ, Japanese Studies minors: linguistics, history
What was your motivation to major in CTSJ?
Originally I couldn’t decide between a variety of majors. After taking Prof. Moazzam-Doulat’s Postcolonialism class, I felt CTSJ was a great blend of my interests and carried a lot of potential for me to explore how I can make an impact with my learning.
Can you describe your working relationships with CTSJ professors? Are there any standout classes you’ve taken?
I’ve taken classes with Prof. Moazzam-Doulat and Prof. Christianakis. They’re both fantastic, Prof. M. is my official adviser but while I was taking the Mother Goose class with Prof. C., she also took on that role. They’re definitely fantastic mentors who you can really learn from! If I had to describe the working relationship I’d say it’s a blend between a mentor and a parent. I say like a parent because there’s the vibe of supportiveness that is associated with family. I think Mother Goose and What Comes After Postcolonialism were my favorite courses at Oxy in general. The CTSJ Research Journal is also one of the highlights of the department! It’s a fantastic way to explore how CTSJ concepts apply in real-world scenarios and other academic settings.
The liberal arts approach allowed me to explore many areas of interest, not only to see how they intersect but also how they function outside of academia.
Did you study abroad? How did it complement or enhance your education?
Studying abroad in Japan helped me apply all these concepts I’ve learned to new contexts I may not have been exposed to at Oxy. Interacting with people who don’t know what CTSJ is and seeing how the major’s classes overlap with multiple other majors was very enlightening. I’m in Japan now and can see how concepts and approaches I’ve learned in CTSJ classes have transferred to psychology, history, international relations, and politics classes.
What are your ambitions post-Oxy and how has the liberal arts approach helped to put you on this path?
After graduating, I plan to pursue further education, ideally a Ph.D., in conjunction with a craft apprenticeship in order to become a museum curator. The liberal arts approach allowed me to explore many areas of interest, not only to see how they intersect but also how they function outside of academia. In particular, seeing the dependency between the preservation of art and knowledge in furthering quality of life and economic development pushed me toward the maintenance of cultural arts as a career. Given the current political climate as well, I felt there was a significance to maintaining our museums and places of knowledge.
The department is really welcoming and you really sense the support from both professors and peers. It helped me feel more comfortable asking questions and expressing myself.
What is the vibe of the CTSJ department?
CTSJ is one of the most chill departments at Oxy. I was initially intimidated by the social justice aspect of the department because I did not enjoy being at the frontlines of protests or public facing events. The department is very supportive of many methods of enacting social change including ones that aren’t as front-facing. I feel the department is really welcoming and you really sense the support from both professors and peers. It helped me feel more comfortable asking questions and expressing myself.
To see more Meet Our Majors profiles, visit the main page.
