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CU-Boulder Teaching Assistant Wins National Research Award
Robert L. Hernandez III, a 2002 graduate and visiting teaching assistant in
the ethnic studies program at the University of Colorado at Boulder, has been
named recipient of the Frederick A. Cervantes National Premio.
The award is given by the National Association for Chicana and Chicano Studies
and is based on scholarly research that contributes to interdisciplinary study.
Hernandez will receive an honorarium and opportunities to submit his
prize-winning paper for publication review by the organization and to present it
at the annual NACCS meeting in Los Angeles in April, where he will be recognized
during an awards ceremony.
Hernandez also is a graduate of CU-Boulder's School of Journalism and Mass
Communication. The title of his paper was "A Window Into a Life Uncloseted:
Exploring U.S. Queer Latino Cultural Readership and Film Culture."
"The committee was very impressed with the quality of Mr. Hernandez's paper,"
said C. Alejandra Elenes, chair of the Cervantes Premio Committee. "His essay
was very well written and researched. But more importantly, his paper
contributes to fill a gap in Chicana/o Studies, which is to have a clearer
understanding of how Chicana/o audiences, in this case young Latino queer men,
read cultural texts. We are very impressed with Mr. Hernandez's work, and we are
sure he will be a great contributor to the advancement of Chicana and Chicano
Studies."
Angel David Nieves, assistant professor in the department of ethnic studies and
Hernandez's faculty mentor, said Hernandez's work establishes a critical
methodological approach to examining queer communities of color in the field of
ethnic studies.
"Hernandez's research attempts to critically address the impact of mainstream
Hollywood representation on queer men of color -- particularly a growing number
of Latinos -- in some new and significant ways," Nieves said.
"The work engages young queer Latinos through exhaustive ethnographic interviews
as a way of restoring a sense of self-empowerment and agency to this
long-ignored community."
The award is named for the late Frederick Cervantes, one of the first Chicano
political scientists and a pioneer in the development of Chicano studies.
The CU-Boulder department of ethnic studies seeks to provide a cohesive
framework for the study of ethnic and racial groups and to promote research and
critical examination of culture, history and contemporary issues, including
domestic and global interactions. Studies also include recognition and
incorporation of multicultural definitions and values in the university
curriculum.
For more information call (303) 492-8852 or visit the Web site at
http://www.colorado.edu/EthnicStudies.
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