Natalia M. Toscano was born and raised in Oakland, CA. She attended Santa Monica College and transferred to the University of California Los Angeles, where she received her Bachelors in Chicana/o Studies and American Indian Studies. Having received her Master’s in American Studies, Natalia is now a Ph.D. student in the inaugural cohort of Chicana/o Studies at the University of New Mexico.

 Currently her research centers the exploration of Chicana/o/x cultural production and the entanglements of nationalist ideologies and discourse amongst Mexican, Chicanx, and Latinx communities.

 A firm believer in building community on campus, Natalia works with several student initiatives on campus including El Puente an undergraduate research program and the student organization Quetzalkuetlachtli.