Remembering Jesús Estrada-Pérez
Today we remember Jesús Estrada-Pérez, who passed away 10 years ago.
Estrada-Pérez was a graduate student in the Department of American Studies and was awarded his PhD posthumously in 2016. An instructor in the Department of Chicano & Latino Studies, he belonged to a number of formal and informal student organizations as well as nationally recognized professional associations.
He enthusiastically participated in activist movements and was passionately involved in social justice work. Thus, he often challenged conventional practices and questioned existing policies.
He was widely known and loved by students and faculty across the University and in social and political circles throughout the Twin Cities. Estrada-Pérez was at the vanguard of Queer of Color theory. At the time of his death, he was conducting a groundbreaking and important analysis of the work of Gay Chicano Artists.
Here, colleagues, friends, mentors, and fellowship recipients reflect on Estrada-Pérez’s legacy.
I first met Jesús when I was a lecturer in the Chicano & Latino studies department. We were both in the process of completing our dissertations and decided to confront the isolation of dissertating alone by forming a writing group. While I’d like to say that we were highly productive during that time, the reality is that Jesús, our fellow writing companion Alex, and I spent more time discussing the latest TV shows, academic chisme, and local politics. Due to the lack of funding resources for graduate students, we all had odd jobs (Jesús worked at an ice cream shop), but we still found time to come together and build community.
I will always admire Jesús for the way he lived his values: brave, honest, and outspoken. He gave me the courage to tell the stories that were important to me and to stand in solidarity with others.
Jessica Lopez Lyman, Assistant Professor, Chicano & Latino Studies
I received the Jesús Estrada-Pérez Memorial Graduate Fellowship in the summer of 2021. This was a very difficult time both personally and professionally because the COVID-19 pandemic was still in full effect. As we all know, the pandemic made most activities quite challenging, whether it be teaching, socializing, community organizing, or doing research. The fellowship granted me funding at an extremely precarious time and ultimately enriched my educational experience at UMN. Since graduating in 2024, I have become a Mellon Faculty Fellow and assistant professor at Dartmouth College.
E. Ornelas (PhD ‘24, feminist studies), former fellowship recipient
I am a PhD candidate in theatre historiography with a minor in race, Indigeneity, disability, gender, and sexuality Studies, and a two-time recipient of the Jesús Estrada-Pérez Memorial Fellowship. In 2022, I used the fellowship funds to travel to New York City to research the Young Lords and the Broadway musical The Capeman, which helped me complete my master's thesis and develop my dissertation project about theatre in Puerto Rico.
In 2024, I used the fellowship funds to stay in San Juan, Puerto Rico for over a month while conducting research on two theatre companies, Broadway Illusions, Inc. and Teatro en 15, for my dissertation. My chapter on Teatro en 15 covers their June 2024 "Pride Month" season of shows, which I argue revealed the inherent queerness of jaibería, a Puerto Rican cultural practice of survival that cleverly subverts colonial and capitalist power. I was also able to put some of these funds toward another trip to San Juan in January 2025. I plan to finish my dissertation and graduate in May 2026.
Beyond the practicalities of financial support, the Jesús Estrada-Pérez Memorial Fellowship enabled me to spend extended periods of time in Puerto Rico, which strengthened my relationships with the theatre artists I write about in my dissertation—relationships that will stick with me for the rest of my life. It was humbling to receive this fellowship in honor of Jesús, who contributed so much to the field and the Twin Cities community.Briana Beeman, former fellowship recipient
It is still difficult for me to grasp that Jesús is not here with us. That around some corner I’d glimpse that warm brown face, hear some sharp, gritty insight or impassioned tenderness. And yet I know that spirit, that unabashed commitment to justice continues, reminding many of us of our duty to fight for a transformed world.
Jesús’ and my path connected when I directed the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Global Change (ICGC) Global Honors Program (GIHC) at the University of Minnesota. The committee selected Black, students of Color, and Indigenous [students] to participate in a program to prepare them for graduate studies. I won’t forget this paper response shared by Jesús—International Travel: None. Left Mexico with parents when a child.
Jesús was selected into the GIHC program. This brilliant, first-generation college student, whose Mexican parents immigrated to the US would become an incredible scholar, teacher, activist. Thank you Dr. Jesús Estrada-Pérez. We miss you enormously, and your legacy continues. We can’t and won’t forget.Dr. Rose M. Brewer, Distinguished Teaching Professor, African American & African Studies
Jesús was a fierce advocate for equality, always standing beside those pushed to the margins and too often forgotten. He had a powerful way of speaking that challenged people to think deeply about the world and inspired them to join the fight for justice. His fight for justice was on full display in his academic work and personal life. Alongside his passion was a sense of humor, a playful smile, and a magnetic charisma that drew people in and made them feel seen and valued. He brought people together. Jesús is deeply missed—and always will be.
Abdul Omari (BA ‘08, global studies), former UMN Regent and friend of Jesús
About the Jesús Estrada-Pérez Memorial Graduate Fellowship
This fellowship was established in Jesús’ name to provide additional summer funding for graduate students. Fellowships are awarded to students whose projects engage some aspect of queer Latinx artistic production, subjectivity, epistemologies, cultural studies, social justice issues, and all relevant interdisciplinary theories and/or methods.
This fellowship is sponsored by the Department of Chicano & Latino Studies with generous gifts from family, friends, and colleagues.
