About This Space

This blog is a community-based project maintained by Marc Anaya (he/él), a Ph.D. student, educator, and storyteller committed to the power of testimonio, language recovery, and identity healing.

Rooted in queer Chicanx thought, Marc created this digital space as an extension of his academic and personal journey—a place where lived experience, academic inquiry, and community healing meet. This blog centers voices often left out of dominant narratives. It invites reflection, reclamation, and the radical act of telling our stories on our own terms.

About Marc

Marc Anaya is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Chicana and Chicano Studies through the hybrid/hyflex program at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He serves as a Graduate and Teaching Assistant in the department where he also earned his M.A. and graduate certificate in Chicana/o Studies.

Marc's research lives at the intersection of Jotería studies, Chicanx identity, language reclamation, gender and sexuality, mental health, and the healing power of narrative. His work explores how testimonio—as both a genre and praxis—can serve as a tool of survival, visibility, and transformation.

With multiple master’s degrees under his belt (Counselor Education, Ethnic Studies, Educational Leadership, Chicana & Chicano Studies, and Clinical Mental Health Counseling), Marc brings an interdisciplinary lens to his teaching, scholarship, and advocacy.

He currently teaches Ethnic Studies, Chicanx Studies, and College Success courses as a tenured professor at Modesto Junior College (MJC). There, he helped launch the Ethnic Studies Department as part of the inaugural faculty cohort. From 2019–2022, he coordinated the First-Time In College (FTIC) Initiative at MJC, creating student-centered programs that support first-generation and historically excluded students.

Marc’s work in and out of the classroom is rooted in equity, justice, and holistic student development. He proudly serves as a faculty mentor and collaborator for:

  • UndocuAlly

  • LGBTQ+ Network

  • Comunidad Affinity Group

  • Semilla Mentorship

  • M.E.Ch.A.

At his core, Marc believes in the liberatory power of education and storytelling. His pedagogy is guided by the belief that every student’s journey matters—and that healing and learning are not separate, but deeply intertwined.

Research Interests

  • Jotería Studies

  • Chicanx Identity

  • Gender & Sexuality

  • Language Recovery

  • Ethnic Studies

  • Mental Health & Healing Praxis

Courses Taught

  • Introduction to Chicana/o/x Studies

  • College Success

  • Introduction to Ethnic Studies