Marcos Pizarro

Pizarro, Marcos

Professor, Chicanx Studies

Email

Preferred: marcos.pizarro@sjsu.edu

Office Hours

By Appointment

Education

  • PhD, Education, UCLA, 1993
  • BA, Urban Studies: Urban Education, Stanford University, 1989

Bio

Marcos Pizarro began teaching in Chicana and Chicano Studies [CCS] at San José State University in 1999. He received his B.A. in Urban Studies from Stanford University and his Ph.D. from UCLA's Graduate School of Education. A former school teacher, Marcos' research and community work has focused on supporting Chicanx and Latinx students and teachers to develop practices for wellness and for social and racial justice in their communities.  His work to help develop the Chicanx/Latinx Student Success Center at SJSU led to a tranformative model for Chicanx/Latinx student engagement that has enhanced Latinx student sense of belonging, academic success and well-being.

In 2005, he published a book on his research with Chicanx youth in East Los Angeles and the Yakima Valley of Washington State. The book, "Chicanas and Chicanos in School," explores the relationship between the identities of Chicanx students and their experiences in school with a focus on lessons that will aid those interested in enhancing the educational access and engagement of these youth (see below for a link to the book). Based on this work, he developed and coordinated MAESTRXS, an intersectional justice organization developing and implementing a transformative education model with Latinx communities. He works with schools on the development and implementation of Ethnic Studies curricula and culturally sustaining models of engaging students of Color. Marcos is the co-coordinator of the Institute for Teachers of Color Committed to Racial Justice (ITOC), a project that provides training and support for teachers and teacher educators invested in transformative practices for racial justice.  This project has led to a series of publications that highlight the challenges and revolutionary contributions of teachers of Color and teacher eductors of Color in US schools (see "Publications & Presentations" link at the top of this page).

From 2019 through 2024, he served as the Associate Dean of SJSU's Lurie College of Education. Marcos’ work in the College of Education included facilitating an anti-racist, anti-ableist, abolitionist Inquiry to Action Group and co-creating and co-coordinating the Ethnic Studies Residency Program that prepares future Ethnic Studies teachers.

Information on CCS, the Chicanx/Latinx Student Success Center, MAESTRXS and ITOC can be found using the links at the top and bottom of this page.

Links