Alvaro Huerta, Ph.D.

Dr. Alvaro Huerta holds a joint faculty appointment in Urban & Region Planning and Ethnic & Women’s Studies at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. As an interdisciplinary scholar, he teaches and conducts research on the intersecting domains of community & economic development, Chicana/o & Latina/o studies, immigration & Mexican diaspora, social movements, social networks and the informal economy.

Apart from his journal articles, social commentaries and edited volumes, he is the author of the book Reframing the Latino Immigration Debate: Towards a Humanistic Paradigm (San Diego State University Press, 2013). As a nationally recognized speaker and public policy expert, he has spoken (and been interviewed) at major universities, academic conferences, philanthropic foundations, syndicated programs (e.g., Tavis Smiley Show) and other influential forums (e.g., TEDxClaremontColleges).

As a first-generation university graduate, Dr. Huerta is the product of public schools, from inner-city schools (K-12) to elite universities. He holds a B.A. (history) and M.A. (urban planning) from UCLA, in addition to a Ph.D. (city & regional planning) from UC Berkeley.