Dr. Leticia Alvarez Gutiérrez is an Associate Professor in Education, Culture & Society at the University of Utah. She is a Purépecha Xicana scholar and educator whose research draws from critical social theory, ecological systems theory, a sociocultural view of development, migration scholarship, cultural assets frameworks, Chicana feminist theory, ethnographic and participatory action research (PAR) approaches.
Leticia is also the faculty mentor for the Mestizo Arts and Activism Collective, a group of high school students, undergraduate mentors, researchers, university faculty and artists who work collaboratively to create positive change in their communities. Through culturally relevant methods of teaching and learning, MAA works together to foster an engaging space for high school students to develop community-based leadership skills and create community based research projects that address issues that matter to their communities.