We’re excited to share that Dr. Allison Saenz has joined us as an Assistant Professor in Ethnic Studies. Welcome to the community, Professor Saenz!

What’s your research specialization? What projects are you currently working on?

I was trained as a public historian and specialized in 20th century United States and Latinx history. In broad terms, my research looks at Central American populations in the United States, particularly in urban areas. More specifically, my research work revisits the 1980s and the Sanctuary Movement of that time. A lot of the history from that period is often told from the perspective of white allies (individuals) or supportive churches. My work refocuses on Central American voices to gain a better understanding of Latinx experiences in this time period.

Currently I’m writing a book that expands the material of my dissertation. I am making additional archive visits and conducting more oral histories in the Houston area to amplify different placemaking practices that diasporic Central Americans have historically partaken in.

What do you love about teaching? Which course is your favorite to teach and why?

Teaching is one of my favorite hats to wear! There’s nothing better than being able to walk students through a concept and see that lightbulb moment. It’s fun breaking down concepts and attempting to get people on similar planes. I love intro courses—there’s such a variety of students. It’s cool to have the mix of student who are majoring in the topic and those that aren’t, and to see how they engage with the material differently.

What did you do before coming to the U of U? What’s your background?

I earned my Ph.D. from the University of Houston in the summer of 2024 and spent the next year teaching there. It was so fun being in the classroom as a teacher and highlighted for me how much I enjoy that part of this job.

What do you look forward to about Utah/the U of U?

I am not an outdoorsy person at all, but I’m looking forward to enjoying all of the beauty that this state—and our campus—offers! I’m also really looking forward to building connections across campus and SLC that connect what’s going in classrooms, to our communities.

How do you spend your time outside of work? What hobbies do you enjoy?

I love reading and enjoy reading broadly. And as a reader that never grew out of my young adult phase – I still mostly reach for books on the YA shelf. I really enjoy museums and am excited to see the many museums of Salt Lake. Also, I am a big K-pop fan. It’s fun to see a burgeoning interest in K-pop with recent release of KPop Demon Hunters.