she/her/ella

Cynthia Garcia is the daughter of Immigrant, Chingona, and proud Mexicana Martha Castillo. Cynthia grew up in San Diego, CalifAztlan, where her identity as a California Chicana drives her livelihood and education. Her roots, by way of Mexicali B.C., stretch to Sonora, Guanajuato, Jalisco and CDMX. Cynthia currently serves as a Chicana sCHOLAr, Faculty in Chican@/x studies & Ethnic Studies, Puente counselor, mentor and activist. Cynthia has been a counselor for 13 years and an adjunct faculty member for over seven years. She earned her undergraduate degree in communication from Cal State University San Marcos and both her master’s degrees in organizational leadership and counseling from National University. She most recently completed her Master’s in Chicana/o studies at La Universidad de Nuevo Mexico and will continue her educational journey there as she recently began her PhD in Chicana/o studies. As a proud Chicana, Cynthia has advocated for her community, especially in the educational sector, by helping students advocate for themselves, their identity, & their history. Being involved in programs such as the Puente Project, Advisor to M.E.Ch.A. while also serving a two-year term as the chair of her college’s Latinx/Indigenous Alliance and being a member of the Latinx Advisory group for the college president and superintendent. Cynthia’s work is rooted in Chicana feminism, Chicana identity, Barrio identity in California, Chican@/x Film, and Chican@/xs in higher education. Through intentional collaboration and support, promoting growth by directly challenging systemic barriers that have impeded our communities, she has ensured her students understand the importance of our history and cultural identity and that all that we aspire to is founded on the sacrifice of our ancestors. She hopes to continue supporting, inspiring, and guiding her community to educate the next generation of Chican@/x scholars. C/S – Que Viva La Raza 

Research Interests 

Chicana Feminism | Chicana Identity | Chican@/x Popular Culture | Chican@/x Educational Equity | CalifAztlan Chican@s/xs | Querencia | Oral Histories 

Courses Offered  

CCS 493 Artistic Expressions – Online