Statement in Support of Iván Chaar López

The Latina/x/o Studies Association Executive Council unequivocally condemns the University of Texas, Austin’s decision to deny Dr. Iván Chaar López’s application for tenure and promotion. Based on his distinguished and innovative record of publication, Dr. Chaar López would likely be awarded tenure and promotion at virtually any R1 university in the country. He has a well-reviewed book that was published in 2024 by Duke University Press, one of the top presses in his field. Along with his book, Dr. Chaar López published a co-edited collection of essays, a series of articles in top-tier peer-reviewed journals (including one that was awarded the American Studies Association’s 2020 Best Article award), and a pair of recent invited book chapters that will undoubtedly serve as the foundation for his next monograph. In addition to his outstanding research profile, Dr. Chaar López is a stellar citizen of his department, college, and the profession and a highly effective undergraduate and graduate teacher. Given that UT Austin provided no explanation for the tenure denial, we can only conclude that Dr. Chaar López is the victim of a political purge designed to erase Latina/x/o and Borderlands Studies from the University of Texas, Austin. The Latina/x/o Studies Association Executive Council urges the UT Austin administration to immediately reconsider this disastrous decision. Not only is it an indictment of UT Austin to reject such an accomplished and dedicated young scholar, but it is also a clear indication that UT Austin is motivated more by political concerns than research excellence.