DePaul University’s Lourdes Torres Honored by the the Latin American Studies Association

Lourdes Torres, a professor of Latin American and Latino studies at DePaul University in Chicago, has been named the recipient of the 2021 Frank Bonilla Public Intellectual Award. The honor was granted by the Latina/o Studies Section of the Latin American Studies Association, a national association for individuals and institutions involved in the study of Latin America. The award pays tribute to the innovative legacy of the late Frank Bonilla, writer, and advocate for collaborative research with other scholars of Latin America and Latino studies.

“I was very honored and happy to know that my colleagues thought enough of me to nominate me for the award and then to select me,” Professor Torres said. “Being recognized with this award really makes me feel good when people notice your work and feel like it has an impact on them.”

Dr. Torres’ research focuses on Latinx queer organizations in Chicago. “I think it’s important for people to recognize that we are here, we’ve been here, and we’re contributing to our Latino and LGBTQ community,” she said.

Professor Torres is the editor-in-chief of the Latino Studies Journal. She is the author of Puerto Rican Discourse: A Sociolinguistic Study of a New York Suburb (Routledge, 1997).