Melina Melgoza

Melina Melgoza (she/her/ella) was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and is a current PhD student and teaching fellow for multiple courses at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Prior to starting the doctoral program, she received her B.A. in History and Chicana/o Studies, and her M.Ed. and teaching credential from UCLA, specializing in Social Studies and Ethnic Studies. She taught in Los Angeles public schools and is enthusiastic and hopeful about advocating for and participating in liberatory Ethnic Studies practices, both within an educational setting and as an integral aspect of life. Through her research, she hopes to collaborate with various communities in Los Angeles to shed light on the power, message, and potential of Ethnic Studies praxis in educational environments. She sees Ethnic Studies as a social, political, and educational pathway for self-exploration, healing, community building, and solidarity.