My name is María Célleri (she/her/ella), and my story is both unique and reflective of so many immigrant, queer, femmes of color who have fought their way through institutional barriers.

I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, in the late 1980s. My parents migrated from Ecuador to Venezuela in the 1970s following the petroleum boom. By age 4, I returned to Ecuador, where I started school until age 7, when I once again migrated to Brooklyn, NY. I was born in movement. Raised between Sunset Park, BK, and Quito, Ecuador, I was immersed in two languages, cultures, and ways of being. My mother, a trained school teacher in her home country, worked in sweatshops to make ends meet. But always a teacher, she sat with me and taught me Spanish, while ESL classes trained me in English. I’m lucky to be fully bilingual thanks to my mother’s persistence.

As a child, I was an avid reader, a curious thinker, and an empathetic human. That led me to a long and interesting journey into higher ed. After receiving my bachelor’s degree, I went on to earn a Master’s in Latin American Studies (Stony Brook University), a Master’s in Gender and Sexuality Studies (Ohio State University), and a PhD in Ethnic Studies (University of California, San Diego). My academic journey has been fueled by my love for teaching and commitment to social justice.

Currently, I work as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where I specialize in Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Latina/o/x Studies, Queer/Cuir Studies, Decolonial Feminism, as well as Archival, Qualitative, and Narrative-Based Research. I’ve published on immigration, queerness, storytelling, reproductive justice, and outdoor leisure.

Outside the classroom, I’ve organized over 50 events and programs centered around marginalized stories, social justice, and inclusive practices. Outside of my academic pursuits, I have worked as an organizer. I’ve been a union headsteward, co-founded a queer of color grassroots colective in San Diego, and co-founded the Baltimore-chapter of Latino Outdoors. I’m also a board member for Latinas en Baltimore community storytelling project. My expertise has allowed me to lead workshops and seminars at universities, high schools, and non-profits.