Jessica L. Lavariega Monforti, PhD

About

Dr. Lavariega Monforti is Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at California Lutheran University. She received her PhD from The Ohio State University in 2001. Her research primarily focuses on the differential impact of public policy according to race, gender and ethnicity. She is specifically interested in the political incorporation and representation of Latino/as, immigrants and women. Her latest research examines how major forces such as technology, the military system and immigration policy impact and are impacted by Latina/o youth. She has worked with organizations such as Texas Rio Grande Legal Aide, La Union del Pueblo Entero, and the South Texas Adult Resource and Training Center.  Dr. Lavariega Monforti has co-authored two books and published over 50 articles and chapters. She has contributed to several news articles and broadcasts including the New York Times, La Opinión, and NPR’s All Things Considered.

Education

Ph.D., Political Science 

Degree Received: December 2001, The Ohio State University. 

Fields of Specialization in U.S. Politics: Urban Politics, the Politics of Race, Gender and Ethnicity. 

Fields of Specialization in Theory and Methods: Survey Research Methods and Democratic Theory. 

Dissertation: A House Divided Cannot Stand: The Paradox of Cuban Political Participation in Miami. 

Dissertation Committee: William Nelson, Jr. (Chair), Paul A. Beck, Herbert Weisberg, Richard Timpone

M.A., Political Science

Degree Received: Spring 2000, The Ohio State University.

B.A, Political Science 

Degree Received: Spring 1997, Florida State University. 

Expertise

Dr. Lavariega Monforti's research primarily focuses on the differential impact of public policy according to race, gender and ethnicity. She is specifically interested in the political incorporation and representation of Latino/as, immigrants and women. Her latest research examines how major forces such as technology, the military system and immigration policy impact and are impacted by Latina/o youth. She has worked with organizations such as Texas Rio Grande Legal Aide, La Union del Pueblo Entero, and the South Texas Adult Resource and Training Center.  Dr. Lavariega Monforti has co-authored two books and published over 50 articles and chapters. She has contributed to several news articles and broadcasts including the New York Times, La Opinión, and NPR’s All Things Considered.

Publications

Publications: Articles

Donner, William R. and Jessica Lavariega Monforti. “Ethnicity, Income, and Disaster Preparedness in Deep South Texas.” Disasters Journal. Forthcoming, see: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/%28ISSN%291467-7717/earlyview.

J. A. Kypuros, S. W. Crown, A. A. Fuentes, Haward. Vasquez, and V. Pierce, and J. Lavariega Monforti, “Developing an Ecosystem for Student Success in Engineering in Rio South Texas.” Proceedings of the ASEE/IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference, El Paso, TX, October 21-24, 2015.

Lavariega Monforti J and José Marichal. 2014. The Role of Digital Skills in the Formation of Generalized Trust among Latinos and African Americans in the United States. Social Science Computer Review, vol. 32: 1 (Feb). Pp 3-17.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica and Renee Cramer. 2014. “Guarding Our Borders with Gardasil: Immigrant Women and Physical Autonomy.” Journal of Women, Politics, & Policy. Vol 35: 1 (Jan). Pp 1-30.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica, Melissa Michelson, & Ana B. Franco. 2013 ¿Por Quién Votará? Experimental Evidence about Language, Ethnicity and Vote Choice (among Republicans). Politics, Groups, & Identities. Vol 1:4 (Oct). Pp. 475-487.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica and Adam McGlynn. 2012. “Assesing Latino Public Opinion on Foreign Affairs and its Potential Impact on the 2012 Presidential Election” Camino Real Vol 4: 7 Pp. 55-74. 

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica and Adam McGlynn. 2010. “Aquí Estamos? A Survey of Latino Portrayal in Introductory U.S. Government and Politics Textbooks.” In PS: Political Science and Politics, Vol. 43:02. Pp. 309-316.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica and Gabriel Sanchez. 2010. “The Politics of Perception: An Investigation of the Presence and Sources of Perceptions of Internal Discrimination among Latinos.” Social Science Quarterly, Vol 91: 1 (March). Pp. 245-265.

Baik, Ellen, Jessica Lavariega Monforti, and Adam McGlynn. 2009. “Latino Cabinet Appointments and Young Latino Voters: A Preliminary Look at GOP Efforts to Attract Latino Voters.” Social Science Journal, Vol. 46: 3 (Sept). Pp. 601-608.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica, Byron D’Andra Orey and Andrew J. Conroy.  2009. “The Politics of Race, Gender, Ethnicity and Representation in the Texas Legislature.” The Journal of Race and Policy, Vol 5: 1 (spring/summer). Pp. 35-53.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. 2009. “Protest and Women's Political Participation: Results from the 2004 March for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C." Theory in Action.Vol. 2: 3 (July). Pp. 31-57.  

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica and Melissa Michelson. 2008. "Diagnosing the Leaky Pipeline: Continuing Barriers to the Retention of Latinas and Latinos in Political Science." PS: Political Science and Politics.Vol. 41: 1 (Jan.). Pp. 161-166.

García Bedolla, Lisa, Jessica Lavariega Monforti, and Adrian Pantoja. 2007. “A Second Look: The Latina/o Gap.” Journal of Women, Politics, & Policy. Vol 28: 3/4.  Pp. 147-171.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. 2006-2007. “Rhetoric or Meaningful Identifiers? Latina/os and Panethnicity?” Latino/a Research Review. Vol. 6:1-2. Pp. 7-32.

Publications: Books/Edited Books 

Lavariega Monforti. Forthcoming 2018. Latinos in the American Political System: An Encyclopedia of Latinos as Voters, Candidates, and Office Holders. ABC-CLIO.

Chávez, Maria, Jessica Lavariega Monforti, and Melissa Michelson. 2014. Living the Dream: New Immigration Policies and the Lives of Undocumented Latino Youth. Paradigm Pres.

Nelson, William E. Jr. and Jessica Lavariega Monforti (Editors). 2006. Black and Latino/a Politics: Issues in Political Development in the United States. Miami, FL: Barnhardt and Ashe Publishing, Inc.

Domin, Gregory P. and Jessica Pérez-Monforti (custom editors). Stephenson, Jr., Bresler, Friedrich, Karlesky, and Turner. 2004. Understanding American Government. Redding, CA. Horizon Textbook Publishing, Inc.

Domin, Gregory P. and Jessica Pérez-Monforti (custom editors). Stephenson, Jr., Bresler, Friedrich, Karlesky, and Turner. 2004. Study Guide to Accompany Understanding American Government. Redding, CA. Horizon Textbook Publishing, Inc.

Publications: Book Chapters

Margaret Graham and Jessica Lavariega Monforti. In press 2016. “What are the Stakes? Academic Politics and Intersectionality in STEM.” In In B. Polnick, B. Irby, & J. Ballenger. (Eds.). Girls and women of color in STEM: Navigating the double bind. Charlotte, NC:  Information Age Publishing Inc.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. “Managing Multiple Identities among Latina Congressional Leaders.” In Banazak and McCammon (Eds). 100 Years of the Nineteenth Amendment. Oxford University Press. Forthcoming.

Lavariega Monforti, J. and Jeronimo Cortina. (forthcoming) “Times are a Changin’: Hispanics and the 2008

Presidential Election in Texas.” In de la Garza, Desipio, and Leal (Eds). Can You Hear Us Now? Latinos in the 2008 Elections.  University of Notre Dame Press.

Lavariega Monforti, J. and Sarah Allen Gershon. 2016. “Una Ventaja? A Survey Experiment of the Viability of Latina Candidate.” In Sharon A. Navarro; Samantha L. Hernandez and Leslie A. Navarro, Eds. Latinas in American Politics: Changing and Embracing Political Tradition. Rowman and Littlefield.

Lavariega Monforti, J. 2015. "Inevitable Change: A New Look at Cubans and Cuban Americans." In Tom Baldino and Kyle Krieder (Ed.). Minority Voting in the U.S. Preaeger.   

Lavariega Monforti, J. 2014. “Identity Revisited: Latinos(as) and Panethnicity.” In Tony Affigne, Evelyn Hu-DeHart, and Marion Orr (Eds.) Latino Politics en Ciencia Política: The Search for Latino Identity and Racial Consciousness. New York: NYU Press. Pp. 51-73.

Lavariega Monforti, J. and Melissa R. Michelson. 2014. “Social Networks, Identity, and Linked Fate among Latinos.” In Tony Affigne, Evelyn Hu-DeHart, and Marion Orr (Eds.) Latino Politics en Ciencia Política: The Search for Latino Identity and Racial Consciousness. New York: NYU Press. Pp. 92-114.

Lavariega Monforti, J. Adam McGlynn and Ana Franco. 2014. “Undocumented Youth in the RGV.” In Milo Kearney, Anthony Knopp, and Antonio Zavaleta (Eds), Still More Studies in Rio Grande Valley History Brownsville: The University of Texas at Brownsville.

Lavariega Monforti, J. Juan Carlos Flores and Dario Moreno. 2013. “Manny Diaz and the Rise and Fall of the Miami Renaissance.” In Sharon A. Navarro and Rodolfo Rosales (Eds.) The Roots of Latino Urban Agency. Denton, TX; University of North Texas Press. Pp. 81-96.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. 2013. “La Lucha: Latinas Surviving Political Science” In Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs, Yolanda Flores Niemann, Carmen G. González, Angela P. Harris (Eds). Presumed Incompetent: The Intersections of Race and Class for Women in Academia. Utah State University Press. Pp. 393-407.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica, Adam J. McGlynn, and Melissa R. Michelson. 2012. “Perspectives on Using Team-Based Learning to Teach Introductory U.S. Government Courses.” In Michael Sweet and Larry K. Michaelson (Eds.) Team-Based Learning in the Social Sciences and Humanities. Group Work that Works to Generate Critical Thinking and Engagement. Stylus Publishing. Pp. 265-278.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. 2011. “2006 Protests” In Kathleen Arnold (Ed). Anti-Immigration in the United States: A Historical Encyclopedia. Volume 1. ABC-CLIO Greenwood. Pp. 471-473.

Christensen, Kyle and Jessica Lavariega Monforti. 2010. “Battling Neocolonialism: A Guevarian Model of Social Action” In Russell Benjamin and Gregory O. Hall (eds.) Eternal Colonialism. University Press of America. Pp 75-86.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. 2010. “A Candle in the Wind? Latinos and the 2004 Elections in Texas.” in De la Garza, Rodolfo O., Louis DeSipio, and David L. Leal (Eds.). Beyond the Barrio: Latinos in the 2004 Elections. South Bend, IN: University of Notre Dame Press. Pp. 171-199.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. 2009. “Immigration: Trends, Demographics, and Patterns of Political Incorporation In Valerie Martinez-Ebers and Manochehr Dorraj (Eds.) Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Religion: Identity Politics in America. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Pp. 52-72.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica and Lisa García Bedolla. 2009. “Hispanic-Origins Populations in the United States.” In Valerie Martinez-Ebers and Manochehr Dorraj (Eds.) Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Religion: Identity Politics in America. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Pp. 138-152.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. 2006. “Political Cohesiveness and Cuban American Political Empowerment in Miami.” In William E. Nelson, Jr. and Jessica Lavariega Monforti (Eds).  Black and Latino/a Politics: Issues in Political Development in the United States. Miami, FL: Barnhardt and Ashe Publishing, Inc. Pp. 29-40.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. 2006. “The Myths and Realities of Black and Latino/a Politics.” In William E. Nelson, Jr. and Jessica Lavariega Monforti (Eds).  Black and Latino/a Politics: Issues in Political Development in the United States. Miami, FL: Barnhardt and Ashe Publishing, Inc. Pp. 249-260.

Orey, Byron D. and Jessica Lavariega Monforti. 2006. “Black and Brown Conflict? Interminority Group

Attitudes and Their Impact on Policy Preferences.” In William E. Nelson, Jr. and Jessica Lavariega Monforti (Eds).  Black and Latino/a Politics: Issues in Political Development in the United States. Miami, FL: Barnhardt and Ashe Publishing, Inc. Pp. 188-195.

Other Publications

Lavariega Monforti J (forthcoming) “Immigrants & the Internet” In Encyclopedia of American Immigration, Second Edition. ME Sharpe

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. “2016 election – the ‘Perfect Storm’ for bringing out Latina voters” LatinaLista.  May 2, 2016. http://latinalista.com/columns/guestvoz/guest-voz-2016-election-the-perfect-storm-for-bringing-out-latona-voters

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. “After Rough Campaign, Many Rubio Backers Will Stay Home” New York Times. March 15, 2016. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/03/15/can-rubios-exit-stop-trump/after-rough-campaign-many-rubio-backers-will-stay-home.

Lavariega-Monforti, Jessica. “Linda Sánchez.” In the Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in Contemporary Politics, Law, and Social Movements, edited by Suzanne Oboler and Deena Gonzalez, vol. 1, pp. 214-217. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Lavariega-Monforti, Jessica. “Loretta Sánchez.” In the Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in Contemporary Politics, Law, and Social Movements, edited by Suzanne Oboler and Deena Gonzalez, vol. 1, pp. 214-217. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Lavariega-Monforti, Jessica and Damián Fernández. “Ilean Ros-Lehtinen.” In the Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in Contemporary Politics, Law, and Social Movements, edited by Suzanne Oboler and Deena Gonzalez, vol. 1, pp. 214-217. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Lavariega-Monforti, Jessica and Angelo Falcon. “Demographics.” In the Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in Contemporary Politics, Law, and Social Movements, edited by Suzanne Oboler and Deena Gonzalez, vol. 1, pp. 214-217. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. “Mexican Workers and Job Politics during World War II: Claiming Rights and Righting Wrongs in Texas.” By Emilio Zamora in Journal of American Ethnic History, Vol. 31, No. 3 (Spring 2012), pp. 123-124.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. 2010. “Latino Immigrants and the Transformation of the U.S. South.” By Mary E. Odem and Elaine Lacy, editors in Urban Affairs Review, Vol 46, #1, 847-849.

Lavariega Monforti, Jessica. 2008. “Book Review: “The Search for a Civic Voice: California Latino Politics.” by Kenneth C. Burt in Journal of American Ethnic History. Vol 27, #2, pp. 101-102.

Pérez Monforti, Jessica. “Book Review: “The Evolution of the Liberal Democratic State with a Case Study of Latinos in San Antonio, Texas” by Henry Flores in Urban Affairs Review Vol 40, #1.

Pérez-Monforti, Jessica. 2003. “Book Review: “Natives and Strangers: A Multicultural History of Americans” by Dinnerstein, Nicols, and Reimers in Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism Vol 3, #2, 60-62. 

Grant Funding

• AY 2016-17 Undergrad Student and Faculty Research Program at Pace
• Summer 2016 Undergrad Student and Faculty Research Program at Pace
• Scholarly Research Committee Grant at Pace ($2500)
• Co-PI, NSF EAGER at UTPA
• Evaluator, HHMI at UTPA
• Evaluator, NSF STEP at UTPA
• PI 2015 APSA Centennial Grant
• PI 2015 NSF Workshop Grant ($50,000)
• 2013 UTPA Faculty Research Council Grant ($5000)
• 2013 Undergraduate Research Initiative Grant ($2000)
• Co-PI 2012 NSF Advance Grant ($3.1 million)
• CSBS Proposal Development Grant ($3000)
• Online Exemplary Course Grant 2011-12 ($5000) 
• UTPA Undergraduate Research Initiative Grant 2011-12 (2 awards totaling $3500)
• UTPA Faculty Development Grant 2011-2012 ($2000)
• 2010-2011 Undergraduate Research Initiative Award (one with David Cortez; another with Carla Bautista. Total awards $3,500)
• UTPA Faculty Research Council Grant, Spring 2010 with Adam McGlynn ($4941.70).
• UTPA Faculty Development Council Grant, Spring 2010 with Adam McGlynn ($2858).
• UTPA Undergraduate Research Initiative Grant, Spring 2010 ($2000).
• UTPA Summer Writing Institute Grant recipient, 2009.
• UTPA Faculty Development Council Grant (with SBSC Border Issues Research Initiative applicants) ($1500)
• Undergraduate Research Initiative at UTPA, 2009 ($2000)
• UTPA Summer Writing Institute Grant recipient, 2008
• Ford Diversity Post-Doctoral Fellowship recipient, 2005-2006. 
• University of California, Irvine, Center for the Study of Latinos in a Global Society, 2004-2005, project title: “Social Context and Exile Politics: A Look at Cubans in Miami” co-PIs, Lisa Garcia Bedolla and Adrian Pantoja ($5,000). 
• University of California, Irvine, Center for the Study of Latinos in a Global Society, 2004-2005, project title: “Social Context and Exile Politics: A Look at Cubans in Miami” co-PIs, Lisa Garcia Bedolla ($6250). 
• University of California, Irvine, Center for the Study of Democracy, 2004-2005, project title: “Social Context and Exile Politics: A Look at Cubans in Miami” co-PIs, Lisa Garcia Bedolla and Adrian Pantoja ($2,500). 
• APSA Latino Caucus and the APSA Committee on the Status of Latinos/as in the Profession Fund 2003 travel grant ($500)
• Yale University/APSA Mini-Conference Women of Color Travel Grant 2002 ($500) 
• Mercer University, College of Liberal Arts Summer Research and Development Grant 2002 ($2045) 
• Mercer University, University Commons Study Abroad Grant 2002 ($25,000) 
• The Ohio State University Council of Graduate Students Professional Development Fund Grant 1999 ($500) 
• ICPSR Summer Program in Quantitative Methods Summer 1998 ($4000) 
• The Ohio State University Enrichment Fellowship 1997-1998 ($30,000) 
• Ford Foundation Honorable Mention Ford Minority Fellowship 1997-1998