The Mexican American middle class: How heterogeneity in class backgrounds affects integration experiences

Author's Biography

Jody Agius Vallejo is associate professor of sociology and American studies and ethnicity and associate director of the center for the study of immigrant integration at the University of Southern California. Her research concentrates on under-studied yet growing segments of the Latino population: the Latino middle class and Latino elites. Her book, Barrios to Burbs: The Making of the Mexican American Middle Class (Stanford University Press, 2012) examines mobility mechanisms, socioeconomic incorporation, racial/ ethnic and class identities, patterns of giving back to kin and community, and civic engagement among middle-class Mexican Americans. A second book, in progress, investigates the rise of the contemporary Latino elite and a third book project investigates wealth accumulation among Chinese Americans. Her research has been funded by The National Science Foundation, The American Association of University Women, The Lusk Center for Real Estate, the American Sociological Association’s Fund for the Advancement of the Discipline, the John Randolph and Dora Haynes Foundation, the UC Davis Center for Poverty Research, and the USC Office of the Provost. She has published in peer-reviewed journals such as Social Forces, Ethnic and Racial Studies, Latino Studies, Social Science Research, City & Community and Sociological Forum. Her research has received coverage in print, radio and television, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, NBC Latino, La Opinión, BBC World News, BBC Mundo, Agencia EFE, ABC’s Vista LA, OC Weekly, NPR, KCRW and KCPP. She has written op-eds on Latinos for Politico, The Guardian, The Conversation, NBC Latino and Zocalo Public Square. Dr Vallejo is the recipient of the USC Dornsife Junior Raubenheimer Award for Research, Teaching and Service, and also the USC Mellon Mentoring Award. She frequently speaks on issues of immigrant integration, the growing Latino middle and upper classes, the growing segment of Latino entrepreneurs, philanthropy, wealth, and inequality. She holds a PhD in Sociology and two master’s degrees, one in Demographic and Social Analysis and the other in Sociology, from the University of California, Irvine.