Cristina Rose Smith, Ph.D.

Dr. Cristina Rose (Smith) is a proud faculty member in Women’s Studies at CSU, Dominguez Hills. She/siya/ella is a mama, an artist, and a co-host of the Las Doctoras podcast. Grand-daughter of Priscilla of New Mexico and Concepcion of Cebu, Cristina works to explore and integrate these multi-cultural, Earth-based epistemologies in her work with Las Dras as well as her research, writing, and family. She/siya/ella received her PhD from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, and her research explores an ethno-autobiographical celebration of her Muxer-Pin@y ancestry that brought together her academic and creative writing as well as her artwork all from a feminist and decolonial lens. Cristina is a VONA (Voices of Our Nation’s Arts) sister and has publications of pieces such as “Sacred Heart of Mango” and “mumbling of prayers (at the basilica of la virgen)” in spaces as distinguishable as Regeneración Tlacuilolli, Label Me Latina/o, and Verses Typhoon Yolanda. 

She/siya/ella is the eldest child in her family, is a first-generation college student, identifies as queer muxer, tries to meditate daily, and really wants to live on sailboat (again). She/siya/ella also loves being a profa at CSUDH; currently, her favorite course to teach, which siya had the honor to create, is “The Witch.” Readings in her classes highlight the writing of maestras in Cristina’s life including Ana Castillo, Cherrie Moraga, Sandra Pacheco, Elenita Strobel, and Faith Adiele. She gives gratitude for these muxeres as well as her abuelitos.