Erika Vallejo is a first-year Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at The College of Wooster in Ohio. She graduated from Michigan State this past spring with a PhD in Political Science and holds a BA in Political Science and Philosophy from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. A first generation college student whose journey has taken her from Texas to Michigan and now Ohio, Vallejo is now looking forward to being able to motivate and inspire students in the classroom and to continue developing her research on the ways that working-class identity, gender, race and ethnicity shape political representation in the United States.
Vallejo recalls her years of growing up and watching her mother struggle with financial security as one of the driving factors behind her original desire to become a lawyer. “It sounds silly, but that was initially what I thought; it seems like they make good money, right?” However, she found herself more drawn toward the political side of things after taking a few relevant classes and becoming involved in the student Political Science Association. One class in particular on labor policy opened her eyes to just how much her upbringing had influenced her current path.
“When I started learning about the material and the importance of class, of labor unions, I was really able to connect to some of those lived experiences,” she said.
Vallejo didn’t pursue a graduate degree straight out of college. While working as a marketing and program specialist, she says, “I found myself wanting to learn more about politics.” Her undergraduate mentor encouraged her to consider graduate school.
One of Vallejo’s favorite sayings is, ‘You don’t know what you don’t know.’ Navigating the search for a graduate program, doing extensive research and never being afraid to ask questions along the way, led her to discovering Michigan State.
All Vallejo knew about Michigan was that her grandparents spent time here as migrant farm workers when her mother was young, and that it could get seriously cold. Even though she came to campus for a visit during the spring, she still felt the significant chill. Her advisor and former graduate director of the Chicano Latino Studies program, Dr. Eric Gonzales Juenke, attempted to assuage her fears.
“At the time, I was terrified of the winter. [Gonzales Juenke] was very intentional with my visit. I met with a few other Latinas from Texas, because he really wanted to show me that Texans can survive here. That was a very pivotal moment for me.”
The Chicano Latino Studies program was also very appealing to Vallejo. Her undergraduate school had a large Latino population, and attending Michigan State would be her first experience at a Predominately White Institution. Having tight-knit spaces in which she could thrive, such as the Chicano Latino Studies program and the Political Science department, made the size and scope of MSU’s campus seem less daunting and helped to build long-lasting friendships.
“I always felt that I was very fortunate to have that small-class feel at a huge university,” she said. “The people that I met, whether it was faculty, students, or the fellow Latinas from Texas that Eric [Gonzales Juenke] introduced me to, we really formed a group that was very pivotal to my own success and our success as a group.”
At the time of this interview, Vallejo was preparing to begin her first year as a professor at The College of Wooster. During her undergrad, Vallejo had the opportunity to work at a tutoring center and teach afterschool law and legislature classes to high schoolers, igniting in her a passion for teaching. “By the time I accepted MSU’s offer, I knew without a doubt that I loved teaching,” she explained. “Being able to connect with students is something I find really fulfilling. That, and being able to give back. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for all the mentors that I had.”
Vallejo is also looking forward to building on some of the research she conducted at Michigan State. She has been a part of several projects seeking to learn and understand more about political candidates with non-traditional backgrounds, such as working-class individuals. She is interested in how educational and occupational background in addition to race, ethnicity, gender, and class may influence access to elected office, perceptions of political legitimacy, and political representation.
“Our politicians tend to be more affluent, more educated, and we’ve seen a bit of a gap between voters and the public,” she explained. “Being able to share some of this research, the stories I’ve heard from working class folks who have run for office and the challenges they’ve faced, we can make strides toward increasing working-class representation.”
Hispanic Heritage Month makes Vallejo think back to the moment she accepted MSU’s graduate school offer. “It was very humbling in many ways, to recognize that my grandparents had literally worked on the land not too far from MSU,” she says. “I was very fortunate to be able to study and get my PhD there.”
It also brings to mind how important Latino representation is in all fields, whether it be politics, education, or academia in general. “I don’t think I realized what influence it played when I was younger. I realized that much later.” Vallejo’s journey has had its share of ups and downs, times when she felt unsure or lost, but it’s something she isn’t ashamed to speak out about.
“Success is not linear, and failure or losses happen, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t get back up on your feet and try again. Hispanic Heritage Month reminds me of the work ethic values within our culture, and being able to work hard within the field of education and make our grandparents and ancestors proud.”
Honorees’ views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the College of Social Science.