Dr. Omi Salas-SantaCruz is a Trans*fronterizx scholar, researcher, educator, and community activist.
Greetings and welcome,
I am Dr. Omi Salas-SantaCruz, presently holding the position of President's Postdoctoral Fellow in Transgender Studies at Penn State University, affiliated with the Department of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Soon, I will transition to the role of Assistant Professor of Educational Theory/Philosophy of Education within the Department of Education, Culture, & Society at the University of Utah.
This year, I have the honor of being appointed as the incoming co-chair for the Association of Joteria, Arts, Activism, and Scholarship (AJAAS) and the chair for the Queer Special Interest Group in the American Educational Research Association (AERA).
Whether you're a fellow academic, a student of interdisciplinary studies, or simply on an explorative intellectual journey, I'm delighted to have you here on my digital platform.
Born and raised as a trans-fronterizx along the Tijuana-San Diego border, my experiences have deeply rooted and influenced the trajectory of my research interests, pedagogical methods, and personal practices. As you navigate this space, you'll uncover my educational journey from San Diego City College to the University of California, Berkeley to Columbia University, an array of my research endeavors in trans-Latinx and decolonial trans feminisms.
This website serves as a reflection of my academic journey and an open invitation for collaboration, discourse, and engagement with the ideas and findings presented in my blog or publications.
Thank you for joining me on this scholarly adventure.
Warm regards,
Dr. O
“I am an act of kneading, of uniting and joining that not only has produced both a creature of darkness and a creature of light, but also a creature that questions the definitions of light and dark and gives them new meanings.” ― Gloria Anzaldúa
A Salvi-Mex Queer Familia. Art by El Comalito Collective.
About me: A Journey from the Mexican Diaspora to Academia
My narrative is intricately interwoven with the socio-political climate of border towns post the 1994 NAFTA era. Fleeing the tumultuous narco-violence and the overarching shadow of insecurity that plagued my hometown, Tijuana, my mother relocated us to the U.S. in search of safety and new horizons.
Navigating the duality of my existence, I hold the unique privilege of dual citizenship, bridging the space between the US and México both sentimentally and materially. My path to academia and activism was non-linear, characterized by an intertwining of fortitude, happenstance, and transformative encounters.
In the grip of the 2007 recession, life’s unpredictability rendered me homeless. However, the catalyst for change emerged in an unanticipated manner: a friend's recommendation to explore community college. What began as a practical pursuit for financial aid and healthcare access evolved into a profound intellectual and personal awakening. Delving into the profound writings of Queer Chicana/Latina Feminist Thought and anthologies, I found affinity, direction, and purpose.
Today, I embrace the multi-faceted roles of parent, teacher, scholar, and activist. My experiences, both challenging and enlightening, have culminated in the person you encounter on this platform. And thus, here I stand, eager to contribute, learn, and engage in the evolving dialogues that shape new queer worlds.