Thesis Committee Announcements

Well, it's a new year and along with that comes the announcement of my thesis committee, without further ado, here is the team:

Ester Hernandez (Thesis Committee Chair):  
Associate Professor
Office: King Hall C-4035
Phone: (323) 343 - 5349
Email: eherna17@calstatela.edu

Dr. Ester E. Hernández earned her Ph.D. in Social Science at UC Irvine and joined CSULA's Department of Chicano Studies in 2002. 





Bianca Guzmán
Acting Chair of Chicano Studies / Associate Professor
Office: King Hall C-4069
Phone: (323) 343 - 2194
Email: bguzman@calstatela.edu
Website: www.calstatela.edu/faculty/bguzman
Project: www.calstatela.edu/choices

Bianca L. Guzmán earned a Ph.D. in ecological community psychology from Michigan State University. Her primary area of research involves examining the socio-behavioral determinants of health in Latina/Chicana youth and women. She was awarded a grant by the California Department of Health to examine the sex behavior of ethnic youth. This project is an educational theater based program called the Choices CAMP School Project which employs CSLA students and other community organizers. Dr. Guzmán has also authored multiple articles in publications like the Journal of Community Psychology, the Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology and the Journal of Health Communication. Dr. Guzmán along with the Choices CAMP School Project staff is continuously invited to speak at professional conferences. She is also the co-editor of a book published by NYU press entitled “Latina Girls: Voices of Adolescent Health in the U.S.” Finally, Dr. Guzmán is the mother of two young Latina girls.

 Francisco E. Balderrama Professor
Office: King Hall C-3059
Phone: (323) 343 - 2987
Email: fbalder@calstatela.edu
Website: www.calstatela.edu/faculty/fbalder/

 My name is Dr. Francisco Balderrama and I am a Professor of History and Chicano Studies at Cal State University Los Angeles

There you have it, the three colleagues who will provide invaluable mentoring, suggestions, and help shape what I hope will be one of the most interesting, cutting-edge, and revolutionary projects ever done. Thank you committee members, these next 12-18 months should be fun!

Project Update 2: Thesis Committee Announcements coming shortly

I'm finally finished with my last Grad course. As such, we'll finally be able to get fully immersed in this project. I have some things to sort through first (with regard to this project), but I've gotten commitments from at least five professors to become a part of my research committee. However, because only three professors can be selected , I'm still in the process of finalizing my selections. I should have my mind made up by December 31, 2011 and will post my committee members/team selections on January 2nd, 2012.

Just a quick update...

The initial responses to my blog and forthcoming project have been great, thank you everyone for your support. I've even had Dr Dionne Espinoza, a member of my thesis committee, tell me that she has a colleague of hers who is interested in being interviewed for this project. Because I'm getting ready for finals, I won't be able to begin work on the project until after said finals are over. However, once that's done, I'd like to have a brainstorming session with anyone who is interested in lending a helping hand. The goal would be to begin mapping out which topics/issues will be addressed in the project. Well, that's all for now, I look forward to resuming this collaboration very soon. Have a blessed day.

Disability and Being Chicano: The Lived Experiences Of A Dual Minority Group

Hello Everyone, I began this blog as a way for me to dialogue about my upcoming thesis project. You may be asking yourself, "What's your thesis about?" Well, as I haven't even drafted an outline yet, the following ideas are tentative:

Goals:

• To give a voice to what I feel is an underrepresented if not outright invisible group within the field of Chicano Studies; namely, the disabled members of the Chicano Community.
• To help those who are able-bodied connect with, and understand the histories of those people who are disabled. We have a story and it deserves to be included as well.
• It is my hope that this project will allow for inclusion of the disabled Chicano experience into the larger discourse that encompasses the field of Chicano Studies.
• Most importantly, it is my hope that this project and the subsequent work and effort that will be put forth will be done so that it will glorify my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Methodology:

1. Use an interdisciplinary approach in constructing the academic and theoretical framework for this research project. Specifically, I'll be drawing from the disciplines of History, Anthropology, and Sociology. A variety of scholarly articles will be read , analyzed, and used for this study.
2. In trying to decide which theoretical model I will implement, I'm leaning toward the work of Michel Foucault.
3. Furthermore, I will also be conducting face to face interviews which I hope will function more as testimonios/testimonies where disabled members (male or female) can freely voice their lived experiences. 
4. Be in constant contact with my thesis committee chair for guidance and suggestions as to how to complete this project as completely and efficiently as possible.
5. Because I want to make this project as inclusive as possible, I welcome all suggestions, testimonios/testimonies, or help from anyone who is interested in helping out.

Schedule:

The time frame for this project will last from January 2012 through May of 2013. This project is a very big undertaking, and will require a lot of time, energy and support from everyone. Lord willing, we'll finish the project as completely and fully as possible.