STEPHANIE PEREZ

Doctoral Student
Institute of Communications Research, Department of Media
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
smg8@illinois.edu | she/her/hers

EDUCATION
2020-2025 Ph.D. Student, Communications & Media
(estimated) University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Advisor: Dr. Angharad N. Valdivia

2017-2019 M.A., Interdisciplinary Studies

California State University, Los Angeles, CA
Thesis Title: “I Got You”: The Modern American Family and Latinx Reconfigurations in
Netflix’s One Day at a Time
Thesis Committee: Dr. Dionne Espinoza, Dr. Beth Baker, Dr. Michael Clarke

2008-2011 B.A., English Literature and Latin American Studies

New York University, NY

TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND ACADEMIC PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2021, Spring MACS 389: International Communications (Online), Teaching Assistant
Department of Media & Cinema Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

MACS 356: Sex and Gender in Popular Culture (Online), Teaching Assistant
Department of Media & Cinema Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

2020, Fall MACS 356: Sex and Gender in Popular Culture (Online), Teaching Assistant,
Department of Media & Cinema Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

MACS 199: Global Disney (Online), Teaching Assistant,

Department of Media & Cinema Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

2019, Spring TVFM 3830: Gender and Sexuality in Popular Culture, Graduate Assistant,
Department of Television, Film, and Media Studies, California State University - Los
Angeles.

RESEARCH INTERESTS
Television Studies; Media Studies; Cinema Studies; Latinx Studies; Gender and Sexuality Studies; Ethnic
Studies; Feminist Studies; Latinx teenage girlhoods; friendship; chosen family; documentary; Los Angeles
INVITED LECTURES
2020, Fall “Dime con quién andas y te dire quién eres: National, Cultural, and Ethnic Identity in
One Day at a Time”. Guest Lecturer, MACS 356: Sex and Gender in Popular Culture,
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

2019, Spring “Quinceañeras, Latinx Womanhood, and Reconfigurations of the American Family in
Netflix’s One Day at a Time”. Guest Lecturer, CLS 2200: Chicanas & Latinas in U.S.
Society, CSU Los Angeles.

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
2019, Spring Rites of Passage: Quinces, Latinx Womanhood, and Reconfigurations of the American
Family in Netflix’s One Day at a Time. 15th Annual Gender, Sexuality, and Power
Student Research Conference, California State University - Los Angeles.

2018, Spring Restorative Justice for the Women of Sepur Zarco: From Testimonios to Reparations
and Beyond. 32nd Annual CSU Student Research Competition, California State
University - Sacramento.

2018, Spring Restorative Justice for the Women of Sepur Zarco: From Testimonios to Reparations
and Beyond. 26th Annual Student Symposium on Research, Scholarship, & Creative
Activities, California State University - Los Angeles.

ACADEMIC HONORS & AWARDS

2020 Fellow, UIUC Summer Predoctoral Institute
2019 Inductee, Phi Kappa Phi
2018 Scholar, Hispanic Scholarship Fund
2018 Outstanding Presentation & Student Delegate, 26th Annual Student Symposium on
Research, Scholarship, & Creative Activities, CSU Los Angeles
2010-2012 Recipient, NYU College of Arts & Sciences Scholarship, New York University
2010-2011 Recipient, NYU College of Arts & Sciences Study Abroad Scholarship, New York
University
2010 Recipient, Banco Santander Scholarship, Banco Santander
2008-2010 Recipient, NYU Liberal Studies Scholarship, New York University
2007 Recipient, Glendale Panhellenic Scholarship, Glendale Panhellenic Society

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
2021 Cultural Studies Association
2019 Phi Kappa Phi
2018 Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF)
2018-2019 American Association of University Women (AAUW)
2018-2019 Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU)
LANGUAGES
English and Spanish: Native speaker, fluent reading, fluent writing

VOLUNTEERING & EXTRACURRICULARS

2018 Fundraiser, Cosami de Totonicapán for Guatemalan volcano relief
2018 Volunteer, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
2018 Volunteer, Food Forward
2018 Events Committee, Latin American Student Association
2014 Fundraiser, Polar Plunge, Special Olympics Southern California
2010 Volunteer, Somerset House Trust
2010 Helping Hands Volunteer, MADRE

RELEVANT EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE

Ana Penagos, Burbank, CA – Tutor, 11th and 12th Grade English Literature (2017 - 2019)
• Coordinating weekly planning of research essay through breakdown of multiple essays by paragraph;
with 85% grade on student’s 11th grade final research paper, raised student’s failing grade to passing

Propagate Content, Hollywood, CA – Office Production Assistant (2016 - 2017)

• Assisting post-production department with clearances; replacing stock photos with hi-res images;
office and facility management for untitled scripted series; phone coverage; material pickups for
post-production and executives

Citizen Jones, Hollywood, CA – Post-Production Assistant (2015 - 2016)

• Systematizing network deliverables, logging information for final exports, and organizing legal
deliverables for delivery of Science Channel/Red Bull TV programs; providing research for scripted
projects; establishing administrative protocols for office management and post-production
schedules; interfacing with vendors; new hire orientation; managing gear inventory

American Film Institute Conservatory, Los Angeles, CA – Assistant to the Dean (2014-2015)
• Budgeting and planning Dean’s travel to film festival circuit; leading special events with Spanish-
speaking guests; coordinating meeting and special event schedule with C-level staff; administering
thesis film previews for second-year graduate students; assisting graduation ceremonies,
proofreading Dean’s speeches; alumni registration and special guest chaperone for AFI Lifetime
Achievement Award

American Film Institute Conservatory, Los Angeles, CA – Coordinator, Fellow Affairs (2013-2014)
• Trafficking 35mm film prints and digital cinema packages for all Conservatory classes; building
vendor relationships for film distribution; scheduling advisory faculty retreats; assisting
Conservatory Manager with event planning for fellows; fellows and faculty registration for AFI
Lifetime Achievement Award