Giovanni Hortua

For over 15 years, as professor, writer, researcher, counselor, peer mentor, student mentor, my journey has taken me to spaces across the globe that have fueled my passion in working with community and embracing the spirit of resistance, art, literature, sport, and humanity. I earned my PhD in Latin American Studies and United States History, with an emphasis on Critical Race Theory, from the University of California, Irvine and have served various institutions here and abroad. As a Colombian American, I testify to the challenges of being from "here" and "there" and at the same time "ni de aquí ni de allá". As "Dr. Gio", I have made it a personal mission to remind students that their ancestral resilience is a vital key to recognizing the continual trials and tribulations faced by communities today. The struggle continues...and our relationship to the struggle defines how we see the world and envision the future.