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Dr. Benavides L贸pez is an Associate Professor and Chair of Chicana and Chicano Studies at CSU, Dominguez Hills. She earned her Ph.D. in Social Sciences and Comparative Education with a specialization in race and ethnic studies from the University of California, Los Angeles; a M.A. in education with emphasis in gender studies and higher education from Stanford University; a B.A. in Chicana/o Studies and B.A. in Women鈥檚 Studies with a Specialization in Education from UCLA; and an A.A. degree from Saddleback Community College. Before teaching Chicana and Chicano studies, Dr. Benavides L贸pez worked for years in the field of student affairs.听
Her scholarly and teaching interests focus on Chicana/o/x and Latina/o/x education and immigration; Critical Race Theory (CRT); feminisms, gender and sexuality; higher education student affairs and cultural centers; ethnic & anti-racism coalition building; and听Dia de Muertos听spiritualities. As a qualitative researcher and critical race theorist, Dr. Benavides L贸pez is committed to educational scholarship, practice and pedagogy that promote transformative and emancipatory ideals and reflection on how race and racism impact the experiences of people of color in the U.S. Her work is published in scholarly journals and anthologies including the听Social Justice Review;听Association of Mexican American Educators Journal;听Latina/o College Student Leadership: Emerging Theory, Promising Practice; and The Chicana Motherwork Anthology: Porque Sin Madres no Hay Revoluci贸n.听She has presented her research nationally at the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS), the Critical Race Studies in Education (CRSE) national organization, the听Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social听(MALCS), the American Educational Research Association (AERA), and the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE).
Dr. Benavides L贸pez mentors and supports first generation college students toward academic success and their pursuit of their post-baccalaureate goals. She serves/has served as a McNair Scholars program and Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows advisor. She is a member of the CSUDH Undocumented Student Allies Coalition, works closely with the campus annual CSUDH听D铆a de los Muertos听program, and is a Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) Safe Space Ally.
Dr. Benavides L贸pez is the recipient of Lyle E. Gibson Dominguez Hills Distinguished Teacher Award for her excellence in teaching and was an American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education faculty fellow. She was the recipient of the Exceptional Levels of Service award and has been recognized for her work in the areas of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity by the CSUDH Office of the Provost for mentoring undergraduate students on scholarship and research. She is also the recipient of the CSUDH Marilyn Brady Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguished Service for her campus and community service and the Presidential Recognition Award for excellence in mentoring undergraduate students on scholarship and research.