Hispanic Heritage Month Featured Faculty: Dr. Luzmarina Garcia

In celebration of?#HispanicHeritageMonth, FAU Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters did a Q&A with some of our faculty to share their perspectives on this special month and the influence of Hispanic/Latinx heritage in the United States. This week we feature Dr. Luzmarina Garcia, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and Faculty Affiliate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

1)What country are you or your relatives from??What brought you or them to the United States?

My mother and older brothers went back and forth across the US – Mexico Border (Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to El Paso, Texas) for school, work, and recreation. The fluidity was such a norm that my mother thought it would be beneficial for her children to learn English as well as Spanish and therefore enrolled my brothers in American schools. There came a time when the passage to the US became more time consuming as a result of the Drug War and security issues, and so my family located permanently in the US and was granted amnesty.

2) What’s your current role at FAU?

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and a faculty affiliate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. I teach and study American politics. My research investigates the health of American courts with an eye to effects on public opinion, representation, and inter-branch relations. I am especially interested in gender and judicial decision-making and studying these topics in administrative courts, such as immigration and tax courts.

3) What does being Hispanic/Latino mean to you??

The meaning of being Chicanx is not easily encapsulated in a few words; it exists in actions. To me, it means being resilient, thriving, and having solidarity with others who share and practice a Mexican and Mexican-American identity and culture. It is being bi-lingual, bi-national, bi-cultural, and navigating code switching in duplicitous spaces. It also means overcoming adversities without letting your direction in life or identity be compromised.

4) Do you think your heritage has influenced your career/life?

My history within the Latinx community has afforded me perspectives that are often not heard in academia. My experiences have not defined me, but they have given me greater sensitivity to the diversity of others experiences and commitment to helping others achieve excellence and success. My heritage has deepened my resolve to fully immerse myself into understanding dynamics related to representation, law, and inequality.