UC San Diego Department of Ethnic Studies Celebrates 25th Anniversary

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Photo by Erik Jepsen/ UC San Diego Publications

The Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, San Diego is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a year-long series of events highlighting some of our region’s vibrant cultures. Launched in 1990, the Division of Social Sciences’ department is an interdisciplinary community of scholars engaged in the study of race, ethnicity, indigeneity, gender, sexuality, class and dis/ability.

Situated in a region where the United States-Mexico border zone, indigenous national and tribal governments, and the Asia-Pacific interact, the UC San Diego ethnic studies department outlines a vision to provide a unique and innovative approach to teaching, learning and disseminating knowledge about power and inequality in a global context.

“We are proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Department of Ethnic Studies,” said UC San Diego Chancellor Pradeep K. Khosla. “Our university is committed to diversity and inclusion, and the department is a key component in that commitment. As we pursue the goals outlined in our Strategic Plan, social scientists who strive to understand cultures and address disparities in society are vital to the future of our campus, California and the global community.”

Photo courtesy Department of Ethnic Studies

The anniversary kicks off Oct. 22 with a morning outreach to regional schools and an early evening reception, immediately followed by a concert organized by ArtPower. La Santa Cecilia, a Grammy-award winning Latin rock band, will provide a special matinee performance for elementary students along with an evening concert for the general public and after-party event.

Of special note, the department will also be launching its first Indigenous Studies Distinguished Speaker Series.

Highlights of anniversary events in the fall include:

Thursday, Oct. 22

• 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. La Santa Cecilia K-12 student matinee performance, in collaboration with ArtPower and the Student Promoted Access Center for Education and Services (SPACES)
• 5 p.m. Kick-off reception
• 8 p.m. La Santa Cecilia Concert, in collaboration with ArtPower

Friday, Oct. 23

• 7 p.m. Paul Espinoza Film Series presenting “The Lemon Grove Incident,” in collaboration with the Cross Cultural Center and UC San Diego Library

November, month long

• “Tradition by Moderns: Native American Women Artists in California” exhibit at the Women’s Museum of California in Liberty Station, curated by UC San Diego undergraduates in ethnic studies, presented in conjunction with the UC San Diego California Native American Day Celebration

Wednesday, Nov. 4

• 2 – 4 p.m. UC San Diego Academic Senate Faculty Research Lecture, “Critical Refugee Studies: The Vietnam War and Militarized Refuge(es),” featuring Yen Le Espiritu, founding member the Department of Ethnic Studies
   

Wednesday, Nov. 18

• Inaugural Indigenous Studies Distinguished Speaker Series: Amy Lonetree

Thursday, Nov. 19

• 6 – 8 p.m. “‘We’ Not ‘I’: The Importance of CommUNITY in the Lives of Native Students, Faculty, and Staff” keynote speaker Persephone Hooper Lewis, presented in conjunction with the UC San Diego California Native American Day Celebration

For the complete list of events and updated information, visit the Department of Ethnic Studies Anniversary Celebration page. For information: 858-534-3277 and ethnicstudies@ucsd.edu.