Rebecca Avalos

Biography

Rebecca Avalos is a Full Lecturer, scholar and activist in the Department of Communication Studies where she teaches on the intersection of rhetoric and culture. Previously, Rebecca taught Campaigns and Revolutions at the University of Colorado Boulder, Argumentation and Logic at Santa Monica College, and Introduction to Communication Theory at California State University, Fullerton.

Focusing on the meeting point of critical legal studies, racial formation, Latinx studies, white supremacy and presidential rhetoric, Rebecca is currently completing her Ph.D. at the University of Colorado Boulder in rhetoric and culture. Before her four years of residence at the University of Colorado Boulder, Rebecca received her M.A. in Communication Studies with a focus on social movement rhetorical theory from CSUF and holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and a B.A. in Chicana/o, Latina/o Studies from CSULB. Raised in Los Angeles, California, Rebecca shares a deep and unwavering commitment to the pursuit of justice as guided by Faith.

Her latest publication is a chapter in The Latina/o/x Communication Studies: Theory, Method, and Practice anthology entitled, “Towards a Borderland Oratory: Within, Against, and Beyond Con Carácter, Ánimo, Y Grito” (October 2019). Currently, Rebecca is working on the completion of her doctoral dissertation entitled “Matters of the Law in and Beyond Donald J. Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ Racial Project.

When she is not writing, teaching or working with her student-mentees, you can find Rebecca enjoying long distance runs by Manhattan Pier, reading within the Latin American literary genre of magical realism or volunteering on Skid Row with a Catholic-based, social justice organization.

Education (3)

University of Colorado Boulder: Degree in progress, Rhetoric & Culture

California State University, Fullerton: M.A., Communication Studies & Social Movement Rhetoric 2013

California State University, Long Beach: B.A., Communication Studies & Chicana/o, Latina/o Studies 2011

Areas of Expertise (9)

Borders

Nationalism

Critical Rhetoric

Critical Race Theory

Rhetorical Criticism

Critical Legal Studies

Racial Logics

Citizenship

Migration

Affiliations (3)

• Law & Society Association
• National Communication Association
• Western States Communication Organization

Languages (2)

• English
• Spanish