Southwestern University’s second annual Borderlands Symposium is honored to feature prominent Chicana/o and Latina/o culture studies expert Dr. Norma Elia Cantú. Dr. Cantú is an award-winning educator and author of scholarly works and creative writings that explore cultural and literary productions of the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. An internationally recognized scholar and folklorist, Dr. Cantú has written extensively on border literature, traditions such as the quinceañera celebration and matachines religious dance tradition, and a collection of testimonios by Chicanas in STEM. She has edited and co-edited ten books, and written about her experiences on the border in the 20th anniversary expanded edition of her award-winning Canícula: Snapshots of a Girlhood el la Frontera which was published in 2015. Professor emerita of English and U.S. Latina/o Literatures at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Dr. Cantú currently serves as the Norine R. and T. Frank Murchison Endowed Professor in Humanities at Trinity University.

Dr. Cantú’s presentation, “Growing up Chicana in South Texas,” will include a reading from Canicula and from more current work including Transcendental Train Yard and Cabañuelas. Dr. Cantú will be available for a book signing following the lecture. Copies of Canicula will be available for purchase.

The Borderlands Symposium was started in 2016 to highlight Latinx, Chicanx, and Latin American experiences, histories, and cultures. It gives students the opportunity to learn from scholars and activists working toward justice in these communities and beyond. It is presented by Latin American & Border Studies with major support from Feminist Studies, The Latina History Project, the Office of Diversity Education, Diversity Enrichment Committee and the Andrew W Mellon Grant “Creating a Shared Culture of Inclusive Pedagogy. Co-sponsors for this year’s symposium include: Sociology & Anthropology, Paideia, Special Collections, Office of Student Life, English, History, Political Science, and Spanish.

Event Details

“Growing up Chicana in South Texas,” by Dr. Norma Elia Cantú

Date: Thursday, Sept. 28

Time: 4-5pm

Location: F.W. Olin Building at Southwestern University

Tickets: Free and open to the public

For more information about Dr. Cantú, click here. For additional info on the Borderlands Symposium contact Brenda Sendejo  at sendejob@southwestern.edu.