About SMAP
Our goals
Showcase the unique philosophical perspectives that emerge from the Mexican American experience, emphasizing their historical roots and contemporary relevance.
Explore the Depth of Mexican American Thought
Encourage dialogue that bridges cultures, identities, and philosophies, fostering a deeper understanding of shared and diverse experiences.
Cultivate Meaningful Conversations
Highlight the ways Mexican American philosophy connects with broader philosophical traditions, creating space for interdisciplinary and cross-cultural exploration.
Strengthen Cultural and Intellectual Bridges
Vision Statement
The Society for Mexican American Philosophy (SMAP) envisions a world where Mexican American and Latin American philosophical traditions are recognized, studied, and engaged with as essential contributions to global thought. We strive to create a dynamic intellectual space that fosters critical inquiry, amplifies historically marginalized voices, and bridges academia with lived experiences.
Through scholarship, dialogue, and community engagement, we are committed to exploring pressing issues of social justice, identity, citizenship, and indigeneity, while honoring the diverse philosophical legacies of Mexico and its indigenous peoples. Our goal is to cultivate an inclusive and vibrant philosophical community that challenges oppression, inspires action, and shapes the future of ethical and political thought.
Meet the Executive Officers
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Dr. Alejandro Santana
President
Dr. Alejandro Santana is Associate Professor of Philosophy, E. John Rumpakis Professor of Hellenic Studies, and Program Coordinator for Ethnic Studies at the University of Portland. He is also Co-chair for the Instituto de Cultura y Arte In Xochitl In Cuicatl. His research interests include Ancient Greek philosophy, Native American philosophy, and Latin American socio-political issues related to colonialism and imperialism. His publications appear in Ancient Philosophy, Philosophical Inquiry, the Inter-American Journal of Philosophy, the American Philosophical Association Newsletter on Hispanic/Latino Issues in Philosophy, and the American Philosophical Association Newsletter on Native American and Indigenous Philosophy. He teaches courses in Native American Philosophy, Ancient Philosophy, Ancient Greek Metaphysics in Context, Logic, and Ethics.
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Dr. Manuela Alejandra Gomez
Vice President
Dr. Manuela Alejandra Gomez is a Philosophy Professor at El Paso Community College. She has over 20 years of teaching experience on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. She specializes in philosophical pedagogy, ethics, feminism, visual literacy, and Latin American philosophy. Beyond academia, she is also a journalist concentrating on the complex dynamics of U.S.-Mexico border politics. She currently serves as the vice president of the Society for Mexican American Philosophy. She is also an active member of both the Hispanic and Latinx Philosophy and Teaching Philosophy committees of the American Philosophical Association. In recognition of her outstanding teaching, Dr. Gomez was named a Minnie Stevens Piper Professor in 2022, one of Texas' highest honors for excellence in education. Her scholarly contributions were further recognized in 2023 with the Outstanding Dissertation Award from the University of Texas at El Paso. In 2024, she was inducted into the El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame for her work in public service.
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Dr. José Jorge Mendoza
Treasurer
Dr. José Jorge Mendoza is an associate professor of philosophy at the University of Washington. He is book review editor at Radical Philosophy Review, author of The Moral and Political Philosophy of Immigration: Liberty, Security, and Equality (Lexington Books 2017) and has published extensively on the philosophy of migration. His current research centers on migration ethics, Latinx identity, and racial justice.
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Dr. Rocio Mercedes Alvarez
Secretary
Dr. Rocio Mercedes Alvarez is a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at California State University, Stanislaus. A graduate of San José State University, she received a B.A. and M.A. in Philosophy, and a second M.A. in Chicana/o Studies. She received her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Texas A&M University. Her areas of expertise and research focuses on Latin American philosophy, Chicano philosophy and thought, indigeneity, anticolonialism and critical race theory with a forthcoming book that offers an anticolonial critique of mestizaje ideology. Dr. Alvarez is passionate and dedicated to her community and culture. She grew up in teatro Chicano, participated in danza Azteca with Xipetotec Esplendor (San José, CA) and Casa Cultura y Tradicional (Modesto, CA), and has been an active member of CSU, Stan's Chicano/Latino Faculty and Staff Association. Since 2015, Dr. Alvarez has been a member of the Society for Mexican American Philosophy (SMAP), organizing the Society's first conference in 2017.