Amira de la Garza
Professor Emerita - Hugh Downs School of Human Communication,
Hugh Downs School Of Human Communication
Other ASU affiliations
Southwest Borderlands Initiative
2019 President,
Chicano/Latino Faculty and Staff Association
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Fax: 480/965-4291
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Box 871205 Tempe, AZ 85287-1205
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Long Bio
Ever wonder why you or someone you know just didn’t speak up when it seemed vitally important? That is the everyday issue that drives Amira de la Garza to study communication while spending time immersed in groups and settings where this is happening. She first started by asking why patients would not ask their doctors’ name in a clinic, as well as learning how doctors responded to their first patient who died. After spending a year in Mexico as a Fulbright Scholar, her experiences with the everyday talk and life around her led her to develop methods to integrate the arts, spirituality, and personal reflection into the study of culture. She works with many border-related projects, and has had students from around the world travel with her to many places to learn the methods she teaches.
Professor de la Garza reports her research using creative writing, poetry, fiction, and has often shared her research through staged performances. She’s currently working on a novel and several collections of poetry, as well as leading a faculty research group on the topic of “mindful heresy,” which is something her interests have led her to write about.
Education
- D.Min. University of Creation Spirituality 2001
- Ph.D. The University of Texas-Austin 1986
- M.A. University at Buffalo-SUNY (1982
- B.S.Ed. University of North Texas 1978
Research Interests
culture and identity, spirituality and postcolonial/performance ethnography
Publications
- De la Garza, S.A. "Finding My Way to a Life of Mindful Hdresy". Mindful HEresy BLOG (2010).
- De la Garza, S.A. "Auto de Fé: The Testimony of Lupita, aka Our Lady of Guadalupe". (2010).
- De la Garza, S.A. "That's KNOT Funny: Revisiting the Work of R.D. Laing in Knots". (2010).
- De La Garza, S.A. "Neocolonialism". Encyclopedia of Communication Theory (2009).
- De la Garza, S.A. Chicana Feminism. Encylopedia of communication Theory (2009).
- Writer: Dan Keane Director: Joe Cashiola Actress: De la Garza, S.A. "The Poorest Country in South America". (2009).
- De la Garza, S.A. The Four Seasons of Ethnography. The Global Intercultural Communication Reader (2008).
- Leaños, J. (Director) De la Garza, S.A. (Technical Advisor). Imperial Silence: Una Opera Muerta/A Dead Opera in Four Acts. (2008).
- Pinholster, J. and McMahon, J. (Directors) De la Garza, S. A. (Technical Advisor). "Counter Indications". (2008).
- Broome, B. , Carey, C. De la Garza, S.A., Martin, J.M., and Morris, R. In the Thick of Things A Dialogue about the Activist Turn in Intercultural Communication. International and Intercultural Communication Annual (2007).
- De la Garza, S.A. The Integrated Self Crosses Borders Daily: Inviting the Mystical Realism of the Integrated Scholar. Issues in Integrative Studies (2007).
- . "Migration Narratives". (2007).
- . Immigration Law. (2006).
- . North American Identity. (2006).
- B Broome, C Carey, Sarah De La Garza, J Martin, R Morris. In the Thick of Things A Dialogue about the Activist Turn in Intercultural Communication. International and Intercultural Communication Annual (2005).
- Sarah De La Garza. In Appreciation of My Anti Mentor. American Communication Journal (2004).
- Sarah De La Garza. My Spiritual Sensemaking Career Path as Responses to Interruptions of the Spiritual Project. Management Communication Quarterly (2004).
- De La Garza, Sarah Amira. Maria Speaks Journeys into the Mysteries of the Mother in My Life as a Chicana. (2004).
- De La Garza, Sarah Amira (Author) ,Gonzalez, M C. A Postcolonial Ethics for the Methodology of Ethnography. Expressions of Ethnography (2004).
- De La Garza, Sarah Amira. Death Was a Baby Bird. BookStories (2004).
- De La Garza, Sarah Amira (Author) ,González, M C. Ethnography as Spiritual Practice A Change in the Taken for Granted Or an Epistemological Break with Science. Studies in Language and Social Interaction (2003).
- De La Garza, Sarah Amira, Grabowsky, Mary Ford. Ariditas The Spirituality of the Desert Mother. Writings by Women Mystics (2002).
- Sarah De La Garza, M González. The Four Seasons of Ethnography A Creation Centered Ontology for Ethnography. International Journal of Intercultural Relations (2000).
Research Activity
- De La Garza,Sarah Amira*. DIGITAL JOURNAL OF MEXICAN ETHNOGRAPHY AND PERFORMANCE IN COMMUNICATION AND PSYCHOLOGY. CNCL INTERNAT'L EXCHNG SCHLRS(10/1/2001 - 12/31/2003).
- Marsiglia,Flavio*, De La Garza,Sarah Amira, Margolis,Eric. DRUG RESISTANCE STRATEGIES PROJECT. PENN STATE UNIV(9/15/1997 - 7/31/1998).
- De La Garza,Sarah Amira*. FREEDOM FEST. MARSHALL FUND OF AZ(2/15/1995 - 12/31/1995).
Courses
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 382 | Classroom Apprenticeship |
| COM 499 | Individualized Instruction |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 394 | Special Topics |
| COM 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| COM 493 | Honors Thesis |
| COM 691 | Seminar |
| COM 499 | Individualized Instruction |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COM 792 | Research |
| LIA 194 | Special Topics |
| COM 463 | Intercultural Comm Globl Cntxt |
| COM 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| COM 690 | Reading and Conference |
| COM 493 | Honors Thesis |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 494 | Special Topics |
| COM 507 | Qual Rsrch Methods in Comm |
| COM 690 | Reading and Conference |
2022 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 394 | Special Topics |
| COM 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| COM 493 | Honors Thesis |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COM 241 | Intro to Oral Interpretation |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 691 | Seminar |
| LIA 194 | Special Topics |
| COM 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| COM 493 | Honors Thesis |
2021 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 692 | Research |
| COM 692 | Research |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 394 | Special Topics |
| COM 241 | Intro to Oral Interpretation |
| COM 492 | Honors Directed Study |
| COM 493 | Honors Thesis |
2020 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 241 | Intro to Oral Interpretation |
2020 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 792 | Research |
2020 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| COM 493 | Honors Thesis |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 792 | Research |
| COM 799 | Dissertation |
| COM 691 | Seminar |
| COM 394 | Special Topics |
| COM 692 | Research |
Presentations
- De la Garza, S.A. The Four Seasons of Ethnography and Ethnography as Spiritual Practice. University of Texas at Austin, Guest Lecture (Feb 2009).
- De la Garza, S.A. Maria Speaks: Development of a Performative MEthodology for Autoethnographic Research. Trinity University, Dublin, Ireland, Department of Theatre, Invited LEcture (Dec 2008).
- De la Garza, S.A. (Respondent). "Auto/Ethnographic Explorations of American Lives". Annual Conference of the National Communication Association (Dec 2007).
- De la Garza, S.A. "Narravistas"-- La Representacion Visual de narrativos de emigrantes: Explorando la epistemologia de nuestros cnoocimientos publicos. International Symposium on Migration, Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Tijuana, B.C (Oct 2007).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Keynote Lecturer. (Sep 2007).
- De la Garza, S.A. Confronting Damaged Identities in Mediated Migration Narratives: Geography's Role in the Creation of a Public Screen,". Western Social Science Association/Association of Border Studies, Calgary, AB, CA (Apr 2007).
- De La Garza, Sarah. La Frontera as a Site for Connection and Action. National Communication Association Annual Convention (Nov 2006).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Ethnographic Studies in the Field of Human Communication. School of Human Evolution and Social Change Applied Anthropology Lecture Series (Oct 2006).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Critical Issues in Transborder Studies and Immigration in the US Today. Official Launch of the Institute for US Policy Studies (May 2006).
- De La Garza, Sarah. The North American Center for Transborder Studies at Arizona State University Western Social Science Association. Association of Border Studies Annual Conference (Apr 2006).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Creating Texts That Invite Us to Cherish My Papa MR An Audio Autoethnographic Text. Annual Convention of the Western States Communication Association (Feb 2006).
- De La Garza, Sarah, Geist Martin, Patricia. Transformative Turns in Ethnography. Annual Convention of the National Communication Association (Nov 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Current Efforts to Strengthen Border Studies at ASU. Lectures on International Planning (Nov 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Designing Teaching and Managing the Qualitative Communication Methods Course Exploring Multiple and Varied Pedagogical Approaches and Practices. Annual Convention of the National Communication Association (Nov 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. (Un)Healthy Acceptance Narratives of Conditional Empowerment in Women's Lives. Annual Convention of the National Communication Association Convention (Nov 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Every Garden Needs Some Tilling Rigor Critique and Subjective Dirty Work in the Craft of Autoethnography. Annual Convention of the National Communication Association (Nov 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Getting to the Center of the Prickly Pear Reaching Spiritual Centeredness in Middle Age. The Feminist and Women's Studies Division Annual Convention of the National Communication Association (Nov 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Historical Ethnography Bringing Cultures from the Past into the Present through Archival Resources. Pre Convention Thematic Conference of the Ethnography Division at the Annual Conference of the National Communication Association (Nov 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Towards an Ethics for Postcolonial Ethnography. Visiting Scholar to the University of Colorado-Boulder/Department of Communication Studies (Oct 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Dysfunction or Tradition Tearing Down Sacred Barriers to Health and Recovery. Annual Convention of the Western States Communication Association (Feb 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Performing Rejection. Annual Convention of the Western States Communication Association (Feb 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Applying a Spiritual Perspective Across the Field of Communication Recovering the Transcendent in Communication. Annual Convention of the Western States Communication Association (Feb 2005).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Maria Speaks Journeys into the Mysteries of the Mother in My Life as a Chicana. Public Readings of Published Work Changing Hands Bookstore (May 2004).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Maria Speaks Journeys into the Mysteries of the Mother in My Life as a Chicana. Visiting Lecture at DePaul University Latin American and Latino Studies (Mar 2004).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Four Seasons of Ethnography and Shadow Work. Visiting Scholar to University of Iowa/Department of Rhetoric (Mar 2004).
- De La Garza, Sarah. Mexican Borderlands Explorations of the Terrains That Separate and Connect. International Communication Association Convention
- De La Garza, Sarah. Top Four Papers in Ethnography. National Communication Association
- De La Garza, Sarah, Martin, J, Broome, B. Beyond Application A Call for Social Activism in Culture and Communication Research. National Communication Association Convention
- De La Garza, Sarah. Ethnographic Representation in Hollywood The Case for Poetry. National Communication Association Convention
- De La Garza, Sarah. Exploring the Spiritual Gifts of the Challenges of Prejudice and Culture The Use of Ritual and Spirituality in the Classroom. National Communication Association Convention
- De La Garza, Sarah. Intercultural Communication for What Whither the Field. National Communication Association Convention
- De La Garza, Sarah. Advances in Teaching Intercultural Communication. National Communication Association Annual Convention
- De La Garza, Sarah. Spotlight on the Ethnographic Scholarship The Life Work and Influence of Arthur Bochner. National Communication Association Annual Convention
- De La Garza, Sarah. Top Three Papers in Ethnography. National Communication Association Convention
Service
- PResident's Award for Innovation at ASU, Selection Committee (2009 - Present)
- Health Care Search, BioDesign Institute, Search Committee Member (2009 - Present)
- Obama Scholars, ASU, Mentor (2009 - Present)
- Graduate Committee of Faculty, Executive Committee (2009 - Present)
- Journal of Ethnic and Migratino Studies, Reviewer (2009 - Present)
- Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Faculty Advisor (2009 - Present)
- Rethinking our Writing: Rewriting our THinking, Co-Coordinator w/ Lee Gutkind (2009 - Present)
- Routledge Publications, Reviewer of Book PRoposals (2009 - Present)
- Sage Publications, Reviewer of Qualitative Research Textbook Revisions & Proposals (2009 - Present)
- Text and Performance Quarterly, Board of Associate Directors (2009 - Present)
- Initiative for Innovative Inquiry, Director (2008 - Present)
- Text and Performance Quarterly, Reviewer (2007 - Present)
- North American Center for Transborder Studies, Acting Director (2006 - Present)
- Personnel Committee, (2006 - Present)
- Women's Studies in Communication, Editorial Board (2005 - Present)
- Complementary Health Practice Review, Editorial Board (2004 - Present)
- MALCS: Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social, Planning Committee for National Summer Institute (2009 - 2010)
- Graduate College Student Writing Studios, Faculty Coordinator (2009 - 2010)
- Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, Reviewer (2008 - 2009)
- Ethnography Division, National Communication Association, Book Award Selection Committee (2009 - 2009)
- National Communication Association, International & INtercultural Communication Division, Paper Reviewer (2007 - 2008)
- Hugh Downs School of Human Communication Personnel Committee, Tenured Member (2006 - 2007)
- York University Internship Partnership, Internship Coordinator and Supervisor (2005 - 2007)
- North American Center for Transborder Studies NACTS Quarterly Bulletin Planner, Editor (2005 - 2007)
- Communication Review, Reviewer (2006 - 2007)
- Western Journal of Communication, Reviewer (2006 - 2007)
- Studies in Language and Social Interaction, Reviewer (2004 - 2007)
- COM 407 Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Guest Lecturer (2006 - 2006)
- Western States Communication Association Undergraduate Scholars Research Conference, Reviewer (2006 - 2006)
- Arizona Flinn Foundation Flinn Scholars Selection and Interviewing Team, Member (2006 - 2006)
- Teatro Caliente Theater in My Basement, Contributor and Performer (2003 - 2006)
- Western States Communication Journal, Reviewer (2002 - 2006)
- COM 604 Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Guest Lecturer (2006 - 2006)
- Barrett Honors College Office of National Scholarship Assistance, Fulbright Student Interviewer (2006 - 2006)
- Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Director Diversity Initiatives (2004 - 2006)
- NACTS Quarterly Report North American Center for Transborder Studies, Editor (2006)
- School Visioning Committee CLAS, Member (2006 - 2006)
- NACTS Barrett Honors College Internship Collaborative Program for Honors Students with NACTS, Creator (2005 - 2006)
- North American Center for Transborder Studies Search Committee for Founding Director, Chair and Affirmative Action Representative (2005 - 2006)
- Flinn Foundation of Arizona, Scholarship Interviewer (2006 - 2006)
- Hugh Downs School of Human Communication PhD Program, Volunteer Author (2005 - 2006)
- College of Liberal Arts and Science NACTS Proposal for Board of Regents Approval of NACTS, Co Author (2005 - 2006)
- PhD Graduate Admissions Committee, Member (2004 - 2006)
- Western States Social Social Science Association Association of Border Studies, Panel Chair (2006 - 2006)
- North American Center for Transborder Studies, Coordinator (2006 - 2006)
- Planning Committee for North American Exchange on Transborder and Sustainability Issues, Chair (2005 - 2006)
- Contemporary Health Practice Review, Editorial Board (2004 - 2005)
- Senior Hire in Health Communication Search Committee, (2004 - 2005)
- COM 100 Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Guest Lecturer (2005 - 2005)
- Department of English, Guest Lecturer (2005 - 2005)
- ENG 294 Native American Literature, Guest Lecturer (2005 - 2005)
- COM 394 Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Guest Lecturer (2005 - 2005)
- North American Center for Transborder Studies Search Committee for Project Manager, Chair (2005 - 2005)
- Policy Committee, Member (2004 - 2005)
- Faculty Mentoring Program, Mentee (2004 - 2005)
- Border Health Foundation, External Methodology Instrumentation Evaluation (2004 - 2005)
- Search Committee for the Assistant Director of the North American Center for Transborder Studies, Chair (2004 - 2005)
- Campus Environment Team, Coordinator (2005 - 2005)
- Lecture Series on Race Gender and Ethnicity, (2005 - 2005)
- PhD Graduate Admissions Committee, (2005 - 2005)
- North American Center for Transborder Studies CLAS Steering Committee, Head (2004 - 2005)
- Health Communication Senior Scholar Search Committee, Member (2004 - 2005)
- COM 394 Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Guest Lecturer (2004 - 2004)
- COM 404 Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Guest Lecturer (2004 - 2004)
- Executive Committee, (2004 - 2004)
- Ethnography Division National Communication Association, Chair (2003 - 2004)
- Conflict Transformation Project Board, (2002 - 2004)
- Management Communication Quarterly, Reviewer (2002 - 2004)
- Legislative Council National Communication Association, (2001 - 2004)
- National Communication Association Ethnography Division, Immediate Past Chair (2004)
- North American Center for Transborder Studies CLAS, Organizing Summit Facilitator (2004 - 2004)
- Masters Graduate Selection Committee, (2004 - 2004)
- Chicana and Chicano Studies, Guest Lecturer (2003 - 2003)
- Dean's Executive Council, (2003 - 2003)
- Ethnography Division National Communication Association Annual Convention, Program Planner (2003 - 2003)
- International Communication Association Annual Convention, Program Planner Theme Sessions (2003 - 2003)
- Conflict Summit Planning Committee, (2002 - 2003)
- COM 207, Course Coordinator (2002 - 2003)
- COPP Student Affairs Committee, Member and Chair (2002 - 2003)
- Committees of Legislative Council National Communication Association, Elected to Committee (2002 - 2003)
- Ethnography Division National Communication Association, Vice Chair (2002 - 2003)
- Value Inquiry Book Series Indigenous Philosophy of the Americas, Reviewer (2001 - 2003)
- Interim Director (2003 - 2003)
- Video COM 504, Guest Lecturer (2002 - 2002)
- Ethnography Division National Communication Association, Vice Chair Elect (2001 - 2002)
- Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, Senior Lecturer (2001 - 2002)
- American Indian Culture and Research Journal, Reviewer (2000 - 2002)
- MBA Mexican Study Program in Guadalajara, (Present)
- Office of National Scholarship Assistance Barrett Honors College School Visioning Committee, (Present)
- School of Justice & Social Inquiry, (Present)