Dr. Ramona Pérez is Professor of Anthropology and Director of the Center for Latin American Studies. She is graduate faculty in the joint doctoral program in Global Health and for the Department of Women’s Studies. Her research focuses on youth identity and empowerment among transnational, Mexican and Central American migrant youth; food, nutrition, and health among marginalized populations; ethnic marginalization and the state; rural to urban community growth; the political economy of tourism in Oaxaca; and the gendered and moral nature of community economies in Mexico. Her current work spans the US/Mexico border, southern Mexico, Nicaragua, and Brazil. She conducts a summer qualitative research field school, directs internship opportunities for graduate students in the border region and throughout Latin America, and coordinates the Mixtec and Zapotec language programs at SDSU.

Dr. Pérez serves on the Executive Board of the American Anthropological Association (2014-2017); served as the President of the Society for Latin American and Caribbean Anthropology (2009-2013); was the Chair of the Nominations Committee for the Latin American Studies Association (2015-2016); is a senator on the Faculty Senate 2016-2018); member of the University Research Council (2014-pres); member of the College Curriculum Committee for Arts & Letters (2016-2018); and is Chair of the Institutional Review Board for San Diego State University (2013 to present).

Dr. Pérez received her B.A. from San Diego State University in 1992 (Go Aztecs!), her M.A. (1995) and her Ph.D. (1997) from the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Pérez publishes and lectures for both an academic and popular audience.

Office: AL-377J
Phone: (619) 594-1155
E-mail: perez@mail.sdsu.edu