History Department

Education

• MA  History, University of California, Davis, 2021
• MA  Latin American Studies, San Diego State University, 2018
• BA   History, California State University, San Bernardino, 2013

About

Alejandro is a PhD candidate in the Department of History and DE student in the Study of Religion program at UC Davis. He specializes in native responses to Christianization in colonial Central Mexico. After some time in the fire service, Alejandro decided to pursue his academic interests. He received his BA in History from CSU San Bernardino and his MA in Latin American Studies from San Diego State University. Alejandro earned a second MA in History from his current department. His dissertation examines the rise and development of Mexican popular religion in Central Mexico from the period following the Spanish conquest to the mid seventeenth century. Alejandro’s research is currently supported by the UC President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellowship and the Academy of American Franciscan History.

While attending San Diego State University, Alejandro completed a teaching fellowship through the San Diego & Imperial Counties Community College Association (SDICCCA). He advanced his instruction of historical content and crafted his teaching philosophy as a faculty fellow at Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC). After completing his MA, Alejandro joined the History Department at MSJC where he taught courses in US history and Latin American history. He looks forward to returning as instructor of record upon completing the PhD.

Research Focus

• Amerindian Devotions  
• Native Christianization
• Popular Religion and Religious Conflict
• Ritual Performativity
• Material Culture
• Latino Lived Religions

Teaching

Latin America to 1700, UC Davis, Teaching Assistant

History of Science and Technology, UC Davis, Teaching Assistant

The United States since 1865, UC Davis, Teaching Assistant

US History since 1865, MSJC, Instructor

History of Latin America since 1820, MSJC, Instructor

Western Civilization to 1650, MSJC, SDICCCA Fellow

Western Civilization since 1650, MSJC, SDICCCA Fellow

World History since 1500, MSJC, SDICCCA Fellow

Awards

2023   Academy of American Franciscan History Dissertation Fellowship

2023   UC President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellowship, UC Davis

2022   Summer Research Award, Department of History, UC Davis

2021   Emile G. Scholz Prize, Department of History, UC Davis

2021   Hemispheric Institute on the Americas, Summer Fellowship, UC Davis

2020   Dean's Summer Research Fellowship, College of Arts and Letters, UC, Davis

2019   Wakeham Mentoring Fellowship, UC Davis

2014   Gerald D. Nash History Journal Award, First Prize (contributing author)

2014   Research and Travel Grant, Office of Student Research, CSU, San Bernardino

2013   J. C. Robinson Scholarship, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, CSU, San Bernardino