Transborder Scholar Collaborative Launches Borderlands Research Opportunities

SDSU Imperial Valley faculty members, Vannessa Falcon Orta, Gilberto Reyes and Efren Lopez, work closely with transborder students, understanding the challenges that come from crossing the border to pursue one’s higher education goals. 

In October 2023, the team launched the Transborder Scholar Collaborative, a research initiative dedicated to the social justice of transborder students in education along the U.S. - Mexico borderlands. As part of the initiative, the team embarked on a mission to support and guide students who reside in the U.S. - Mexico border research projects to implement border-conscious teaching practices.

“When I teach Chicano studies classes, I remind my students – whom I know many cross the U.S. - Mexico border on a daily basis – that their experience as a transfronterizx (transborder) student is unique, but also worthy of sharing in academia,” said Reyes, a history instructor at SDSU Imperial Valley. 

“As an assistant professor for the Division of Education, I encourage my students to position themselves as border-conscious educators,” said Falcon Orta, the initiative’s founder and director. “It’s important for my students to seek teaching opportunities that advocate for the social justice issues that matter to them, but also push them to see research as an outlet to expand knowledge on transborder issues.”

The inauguration of the initiative was launched with a speaker series entitled, “Teaching and Learning Along the U.S. - Mexico Borderlands,” which features a different educator from the Imperial Valley to share their stories and expertise as a transborder teacher with SDSU undergraduate and graduate students.

“I feel fortunate to be part of this collaborative because we see the need to have more direct research around social justice issues, specifically transborder research,” said Lopez, English assistant professor at SDSU Imperial Valley. “It’s also key to have more allies in the field. We need to build a support system for scholars who practice and implement research projects that are relevant to the region we live in, especially if we, as a community, are going through political unrest.”

Previous to the launch of the Transborder Scholar Collaborative, the team was key in organizing SDSU Imperial Valley Cross-Cultural Center’s “Building Bridges” transborder graduation ceremonies in 2022 and 2023. The university-wide events were held in Tijuana and Mexicali, Mexico for graduates whose immediate family members cannot cross the border to attend SDSU’s commencement ceremonies.

As the team continues their research projects in the spring 2024 semester, they hope to bring each of their expertise – English, Chicano studies and education – to encourage an environment of learning and research among faculty and students.

“Since becoming part of this initiative, I find myself using new tools and language that help me better understand and serve our students at SDSU Imperial Valley,” said Lopez. 

“We want our campus to be a hub for knowledge, support and education around transborder issues. We want our students to take pride in who they are. We want them to share their lived experiences and know that no matter their background or career field, their stories are worthy of being acknowledged.”