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Ordaz, Jessica

Assistant Professor

Positions

Research Areas research areas

Research

research overview

  • Ordaz is interested in the history of immigration detention in the United States. Her larger research interests include immigration control, US-Mexico border studies, prisoner activism, the carceral state, and food justice.

keywords

  • Borders, Carcerality, State Violence, Detention and Deportation Regime, Migration, Asylum, Labor, Immigration History, Social Movements, Food Justice, Latinx Veganism

Publications

selected publications

Teaching

courses taught

  • ETHN 2001 - Foundations of Comparative Ethnic Studies: Race, Gender and Culture(s)
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2019
    Introduction to the study of race, ethnicity and gender in the United States. Overview of concepts, theories and analytic frames that shape the interdisciplinary field of Ethnic Studies. Focuses on historic, institutional, legal and cultural issues that impact African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Chicanas and Chicanos, European Americans, Native Americans and Indigenous peoples in the U.S.
  • ETHN 2536 - Survey of Chicana/o History and Culture
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Fall 2019 / Spring 2021 / Summer 2021 / Summer 2022 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2023 / Summer 2023 / Spring 2024
    Through historical and social scientific studies, novels, autobiographies, testimonies, films, music, and art, this course will provide students a survey of Chicana/o history and culture. Historical overviews of Chicana/o peoples from Mesoamerica; the Spanish Conquest; the historical presence of Chicana/o peoples in the Southwest; the rise of the Chicana/o student and community movements; immigration issues; and the gender, sexuality, and criminalization issues.
  • ETHN 3101 - Selected Topics in Ethnic Studies
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2023
    Intensive examination of a particular topic, theme, issue, or problem in ethnic studies as chosen by the instructor. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours on different topics. Recommended prerequisite: ETHN 2001.
  • ETHN 3136 - Chicana Feminisms and Knowledges
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2018 / Spring 2020 / Spring 2021 / Spring 2022
    Provides insight into the present socioeconomic condition of Chicanas and the concept of feminismo through interdisciplinary study of history, sociology, literary images, and film portrayals. Recommended prerequisite: ETHN 2001 or ETHN 2536. Same as WGST 3135.
  • ETHN 3671 - People of Color and Social Movements
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2019 / Summer 2023
    People of color the world over are struggling for sovereignty, independence, civil and human rights, food security, decent wages and working conditions, healthy housing, and freedom from environmental racism and other forms of imperialism. Course analyzes and brings alive these struggles. Same as INVS 3671.
  • ETHN 4951 - Senior/Graduate Seminar in Ethnic Studies
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2020 / Fall 2021
    Capstone experience in Ethnic Studies. Includes an independent research project and public presentation. Same as ETHN 5951.
  • ETHN 4961 - Honors Thesis 1
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
    Supervised original research project in the field of ethnic studies. The goal is to make substantial progress on a written honors thesis that will be orally defended and submitted to the Honors Program of the College of Arts and Sciences. Department enforced restriction: application and acceptance into the ETHN Honors Program.
  • ETHN 4971 - Honors Thesis 2
    Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Spring 2023
    Supervised original research project in the field of ethnic studies. The goal is to complete progress on a written honors thesis that will be orally defended and submitted to the Honors Program of the College of Arts and Sciences. Department enforced prerequisite: application and acceptance into the ETHN Honors Program.
  • ETHN 6101 - Topics: Specialized Comparative Studies
    Primary Instructor - Fall 2019 / Spring 2022
    Focuses on a variety of advanced interdisciplinary studies. Themes include: Race and Sports, Critical Whiteness Studies, Race and Masculinity, Applied Community Engagement, Black Women in the Diaspora, US/Mexico Border Cultures, Criminalization and Latinas/os, Race, Violence and Film, and Cuba and Tourism. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Recommended requisite: ETHN coursework.

Background

International Activities

geographic focus