Mario Alvarado Cifuentes

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Mario Alvarado Cifuentes

Graduate Student

Biography

Mario Alvarado Cifuentes “Mac” is a PhD student in Chicana/o and Central American Studies at UCLA. Mac was born in Retalhuleu, Guatemala, with Maya Q’anjob’al (San Pedro Soloma-San Francisco Zapotitlán), Guatemalan, and Salvadorian roots. At the age of eight, Mac migrated with their family to the San Francisco Bay Area where they grew up. Living in the United States as an undocuqueer person sparked their interest in understanding systems of violence that impact our minds and bodies.

This interest led them to study Cancellation of Removal for Non-Legal Permanent Residents and its impact on mixed-status families for their honors thesis. They then went on to work in the legal field as an Immigration Paralegal at Centro Legal de la Raza and later as the Pro Bono Administrator at Berkeley Law. Mac’s interest in systems of violence ultimately led them to research settler colonialism. Their current research interests focus on Maya gender and sexuality.

During their spare time, Mac enjoys creating digital art. Mac strongly believes higher education should be accessible to everyone and welcomes prospective PhD applicants to contact them.

Education

  • M.A., Chicana/o and Central American Studies, University of California, Los Angeles (2023)
  • B.A., Latin American Studies with Honors, University of California, Berkeley (2017)
  • A.A., Political Science with Honors, Diablo Valley College (2014)

Research

  • Maya Migration
  • Gender and Sexuality
  • Indigenous Studies
  • Central American Studies

Selected Publications

  • Reyes, Angélica, Mario Alvarado Cifuentes, Reyna Sanchez, and Jorge Reyes Salinas. “OpEd: What DACA has allowed me to achieve for myself and my community,” Los Angeles Times, 2020.

Honors & Awards

  • Summer Mentored Research Fellowship, University of California, Los Angeles (2023)
  • Ethnic Studies Fellowship, Gold Shield Alumnae of UCLA (2022-2023)
  • Graduate Research Mentorship Fellowship, University of California, Los Angeles (2022-2023)
  • Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship, University of California, Los Angeles (2021-2025)
  • Soares Fellowship, Stanford University (Declined; 2021)
  • UCLA Law Fellow, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law (2018)
  • DreamSF Fellowship, Legal Services for Children, City of San Francisco-OCEIA (2017)
  • Sigma Iota Rho Honor Society for International & Area Studies, University of California, Berkeley (2017)
  • Dean’s Honor List, College of Letters & Sciences, University of California, Berkeley (2016-2017)
  • Berkeley Study Abroad Scholarship, University of California, Berkeley (2016)
  • Academic Honors, Diablo Valley College (2013-2014)
  • The Rossmoor Scholarship, Rossmoor Foundation (2014)
  • Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society, Diablo Valley College (2014)
  • Shaun Leong Outstanding Service Scholarship, Diablo Valley College (2014)
  • Milagros Ojermark Scholarship, Alpha Gamma Sigma Honor Society (2014)
  • PanAmerican Round Table Scholarship, PanAmarican Round Table of Contra Costa & Alameda (2013)
  • Fernandez Family Scholarship, Diablo Valley College (2013)
  • Clara Lake Scholarship, Diablo Valley College (2013)
  • Volunteer of the Year, Concord RotaCare Clinic (2013)
  • Father John Vitale Scholarship, Diablo Valley College (2012)
  • Catalina Torres Memorial Scholarship, Diablo Valley College (2012)
  • Puente Project Scholarship in Honor of Alice Kruse, Diablo Valley College (2012)
  • Academic Honors, Diablo Valley College (2011-2012)
  • Exito Escolar Scholarship, Univision14 KDTV and TeleFutura66 KFSF (2011)
  • Student Humanitarian of the Year, Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors (2011)

Courses

Instructor:

  • CCAS 10A: Introduction to Chicana/o Studies & Central American Studies: History, Culture, and Identity; Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies; UCLA (Summer 2024)

Teaching Assistant:

  • CCAS 20: Central American Histories and Cultures; Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies; UCLA (Fall 2024)
  • CCAS 189: Advanced Honors Seminar for Chicana/o and Central American Studies 101; Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies; UCLA (Spring 2024)
  • CCAS 101: Theoretical Concepts in Chicana/o and Central American Studies; Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies; UCLA (Spring 2024)
  • CCAS 89: Honors Seminar for Chicana/o and Central American Studies 10B; Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies; UCLA (Winter 2024)
  • CCAS 10B: Introduction to Chicanx & Central American Studies: Social Structure & Contemporary Conditions; Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies; UCLA (Winter 2024)
  • CCAS 10A: Introduction to Chicana/Chicano Studies: History, Culture, and Identity; Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies; UCLA (Fall 2023)