Maria de los Angeles Torres 

Latin American and Latino Studies Program
(MC219) 1527 University Hall University of Illinois at Chicago
601 S. Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7115
Phone:  312-996-2445; Fax:  312-996-1796

e-mail: torresma@uic.edu

In Brief

Her Work has focused on Cuba and its exiles as well as on Latino politics in the U.S. . She has authored two books, In the Land of Mirrors: Cubans Exile Politics in the US and The Lost Apple: Operation Pedro Pan, Cuban Children in the US and the Promise of a Better Future she has edited a volume of essays , By Heart/De Memoria: Cuban Women’s Journeys in and Out of Exile, and has co edited a book on Borderless Borders: Latinos. Latin Americans and the Paradoxes of Interdependence. She is currently working on two research projects:   Children and Youth’s Politics in the Age of Globalization and Comparative Civic Engagement in three Latino Communities.

Current Status

Director, Latin American and Latino Studies Program, University of Illinois at Chicago.  Previous appointments at Depaul   University.

Education

1986--Ph.D., Political Science, University of Michigan;

1977--M.S., Psychology/Political Science, St. Mary's University;

             1975-- B.A., Psychology/Spanish, St. Mary's University
 

Areas of Specialization

Comparative politics of US Latinos, US Latin American Relations, Cuba and its Exiles, transnational political movements, youth politics in the Americas, and Latin American Political thought.

Books 

The Lost Apple: Operation Pedro Pan, Cuban Children in the US and the Promise of a Better Future. Boston, Mass: Beacon Press, August 2003.

Borderless Borders Latinos, Latin American and the Paradoxes of Interdependence. Philadelphia , Penn. : Temple University   Press, Spring 1998.

In the Land of Mirrors: The Politics of Cuban Exiles in the United States. Ann Arbor, Michigan: University of Michigan Press, 1999. Paperback edition, 2000. 

Selected Articles and Chapters in Books

"Latinos in the Chicago Metropolitan Area: A Search for the Voice and Place," In Gilberto Cardenas ed. La Causa: Latinos in the Midwest. Houston, Texas. Arte Publico Press, 2004.

"Donde los Fantasmas Balilan el Guaguanco" (Where Ghosts Dance El Guaguanco), in By Heart/De Memoria, Temple University Press. 

"Transnational Political and Cultural Identities: Crossing Theoretical Borders," in Borderless Borders: Latinos, Latin American and the Paradoxes of Interdependence. Philadelphia, Pen.: University of Temple Press, 1998.  

"The Politics of Cuban Emigres in the United States ."  In Felix Padilla, ed., Handbook of Hispanic Cultures in the United States .  Houston , Texas : Arte Publico Press, 1994.  

"Economic Restructuring and the Process of Incorporation of Latinos into the Chicago Economy."  Co‑authored with Teresa Cordova and John J. Betancur.  Chapter 5 in Latinos in a Changing U.S. Changing Economy: Comparative Perspectives on Growing Inequality.  Frank Bonilla and Rebecca Morales, eds.  Volume 7 in Sage Series on Race and Ethnic Relations.  Newbury Park : Sage Publications, 1993.  

"Latino Politics in Chicago ."  Chapter in Dick Simpson, ed., Chicago 's Future in a Time of Change.  Champaign , Illinois : Stipes Publishing Company, 1993.  (Reprinted from Future of Chicago Speech Series, No. 15, 1987.)  

"The Commission on Latino Affairs: A Case Study of Community Empowerment."  In Pierre Clavel and Wim Wiewel, eds., Harold Washington and the Neighborhoods: Progressive City Government in Chicago , 1983‑1987.  New Brunswick , New Jersey : Rutgers University Press, 1991.  

"Cuban American Politics."  In Chris Garcia, ed., Latinos and the Political System.  Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre Dame Press, 1988.  

Service to the Profession and Administrative Positions

Director Latin American Latino Studies, University of Illinois Chicago , present

Associate Professor, Political Science, DePaul University , Chicago, Illinois, 1995-present.

Full Professor, Political Science, Depaul University, 2004-2005

Assistant Professor, Political Science, DePaul University , Chicago , Illinois , 1987-1995.             

Executive Director, Mayor's Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, City of Chicago , 1983-1987.

Director, Bilingual/Bicultural Studies and Hispanic Liaison, Mundelein College , Chicago , Illinois , 1983.