Latinx Professor Nurtures Advocacy Through Leadership and Social Work

Blanca-Azucena Pacheco (left), Alica Del Campo (middle), and Sarah Corona (right) are making LEGO constructions. Polk hosted a summer retreat at her home for the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association. Photo Courtesy of Jessica Polk.

Long Beach State promotes Latino studies with the Latinx Faculty and Staff Association. Alicia Del Campo, faculty co-chair of the association and a professor of Spanish in the Department of Romance, German, Russian Languages and Literatures, is a leader in fostering a safe environment for the faculty.

Del Campo graduated from the University of Chile in Santiago in anthropology, then earned her Master of Arts in Hispanic literature at the University of Minnesota.

As she went to pursue her doctorate at the University of California, Irvine, she started working on “social theatricalities,” blending Latin American theater and political commentary.

“My research works on Latin American theater in general, and always focusing on issues of human rights and understanding theater from a political perspective,” Del Campo said.

Del Campo’s work throughout the years explores many themes, such as the Opposition Women’s Movement in Chile, which was a group of feminists who opposed Pinochet's dictatorship and used their bodies to express their activism, along with other political events and themes within Latin America.

However, Del Campo not only explores activism but endorses it.

In 2019, she gathered her students in front of the University Library to imitate the dancing of feminist protesters that was occuring at the time in Chile, with many counterparts happening internationally as well.

“It became replicated all over the world because everybody felt touched by that, so I felt like we needed to be part of that,” Del Campo said. “So we did it.”

Her efforts at the association are to protect the Latine faculty, especially now amidst Trump’s planned removal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs across college campuses.

“No matter what Trump does, we still have the duty to best serve this Latino student population,” Del Campo said.

One of the issues that LFSA encounters is the amount of staff in proportion to the number of students, but Del Campo ensures that the staff is providing the betterment of Latine students on campus through events, and promotion of student associations.

“I think [LFSA] is super important because we are very well connected and we've been supporting important events and activities that are directly directed to students,” Del Campo said. “We're strategically working on how to put the dots together to make sure we continue the good work, and then we continue pushing the university and the administration to support.”

Trace Camacho, staff co-chair of LFSA, and associate dean of students on the executive board, works frequently with Del Campo in meetings and praises her passion and energy.

“She has a lot of great ideas and really is a strong advocate for all individuals on campus, including students, not just faculty and staff,” Camacho said.

Camacho highlighted her positivity towards interaction and collaboration with others.

“I loved watching her strong leadership and advocacy in the El Concilio for Latinx Success because I think she brings a unique perspective of a faculty member but I think she also just really cares deeply about students,” Camacho said. “I think that's a project where I've really seen her strong care and commitment to students come out.”

Jessica Polk, lecturer in the School of Social Work and chair of LFSA’s programming committee, coordinates activities and leads the committee.

Polk also praised Del Campo’s enthusiasm for her work in the association.

“All of our roles that we do for LFSA are volunteer, and sometimes it can be hard to find the time, but it doesn't seem to stop her,” Polk said. “She's at everything, she does everything she possibly can and she does it with enthusiasm.”

Del Campo said the future of LFSA is to protect the Latine faculty and student associations as new challenges arise with the school’s new president next year, working for their mission and goals to remain intact and not be infringed upon with new policies, while staying grounded in their roots.

“I think we have an uphill battle because of the administration, so we need to keep our strength,” Del Campo said.