I am Professor of Political Science and the Dr. Richard D. Young Faculty Fellow in the Department of Politics and International Affairs. My research centers on political behavior, political mobilization, election politics, and partisanship. I serve as a Research Scholar at the Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University, and I contributed as an analyst, editor, and writer for NBCNews for more than seven years. I am additionally a Senior Analyst for BSP Research, a firm that partners with nonprofit organizations and elected representatives to assess the political attitudes of their constituents. I served my department as Chair from 2018 until 2023.

My background, like that of many Americans, is shaped by a family history on both sides of the Mexico–United States border. My mother was born in Los Angeles, and her family predates the border itself — extending across the rural communities of Norther Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.  A mix of Native-American heritage from the Diné, Apache, and Yaqui tribes and Spanish settlers, my family has called this region home for over 400 years. My grandparents relocated to Boyle Heights, CA, following my grandfather’s service in World War II, during which he was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat in Italy.

My father was born in Mexico City and spent his early childhood in an orphanage while his mother — the most formative figure in my life — traveled north to earn enough to bring him to the United States. When my father arrived at the age of six, by remarkable circumstance he moved three houses down from the young woman who would become his wife, my mother. Despite my grandfather’s considerable resolve — forged through years of military service — even he could not long resist the persistence of young love. My parents have now been married more than fifty-five years. Similar to my mother, much of my father’s heritage comes from Native Mexican cultures, and Portuguese settlers.

As with many families who came of age in East Los Angeles, my parents eventually relocated as they built their family, settling in Alhambra, CA — a working-class community just over the hill from Boyle Heights along the 10 freeway. Yet, East Los Angeles remained home in every meaningful sense. I played Pop Warner football at Salazar Park from the ages of 7 until 13, spent my formative years in Boyle Heights, and came of age attending neighborhood festivals where bands such as Los Lobos and Tierra performed. My father’s closest friend became an activist in the farmworker movement, and I retain vivid memories of traveling to the Central Valley, where conversations about politics were a constant and earnest presence.

I attended Loyola High School in Los Angeles, a preparatory school that was foundational for my appreciation of education and public service. After high school, it took me 7 years to graduate from college. With an immediate injury and family crisis my first year at USC and then spending the next years recovering and re-building at Pasadena City College. I later enrolled into UCLA where I earned my B.A. in Political Science.

Following several years of work as a project manager for several furniture dealers, I enrolled into UC Irvine to get a PhD. Initially, I studied International Relations with an interest in terrorism, but after the 9-11 attacks, I decided to move on to another field. I chose to rededicate myself to understanding my history and my community.

It is a genuine privilege to serve as a professor at Northern Arizona University, and I am honored to pursue work that has been a lifelong vocation. Perseverance, opportunity, and no small measure of fortune have brought me to this position. Given my origins, I do not take lightly the responsibility — and the gift — of serving my students each day.

I have four children: Andie (22), Quinn (21), Evi (19), and Santi (16). They provide me with more love and affection than any one person has a right to expect. If there is one aspiration I remain uncertain of meeting, it is simply feeling worthy of the family life has given me.

Stephen’s academic work focuses on Latinx-LGBTQ political participation, the impact of voter IDs on minorities,and the influence of partisan outreach on Latino vote choice. He teaches courses on immigration, Latino politics,political participation, and research methods. His academic work has been published in Political Research Quarterly, American Politics Research, Urban Affairs, and others.

Stephen brings almost eight years of experience writing for NBC News-Latino, covering politics, immigration, political campaigns, and life stories of Latinos making their imprint on the American story. He has written over 200 articles for NBC News since 2012, making him one of the most widely read Latino public voices in academia. His writing has been published in Reuters, Talking Points Memo, The New York Times, and the Washington Post’s Monkey Cage Blog.

Stephen received his Ph.D. in Political Science from UC Irvine and his B.A. in Political Science from UCLA. His research largely explores the relationship between Latinos and the American political system. He is currently a Professor and Director of the Richard D. Young Research Lab at Northern Arizona University.