When it comes to talking about values, it is clear that David Barillas Chón’s, Ph.D., priorities are about the community. Barillas Chón was recently hired as an assistant professor in the Chicana/o and Latinx Studies Department (CLAS) at the University of Northern Colorado.
Barillas Chón was born in Palín, Guatemala, and moved to the U.S. when he was 9 years old. He brings a wealth of knowledge, personal experiences, and a deep commitment to community impact to his new role in the CLAS program in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences — as well as a love of teaching.
“Part of my undergraduate education was training me to go into the public school classroom,” said Barillas Chón. “Part of my love of teaching is finding fulfillment in interacting with students and being part of their growth as learners.”
Barillas Chón studied Education and participated in a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Denver’s Interdisciplinary Research Insitute for the Study of (in)Equality where he focused on Indigenous populations. As a member of the Maya community, he emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals within a community and the far-reaching impact of personal actions. His perspective is rooted in the understanding that one's experiences are not isolated but are part of a broader context that influences and shapes the community.
“We are excited to have Dr. Barillas Chón join our college,” said Jim Doerner, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “His background and experiences will be critical to the university’s efforts to become an HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institution), as he has previously worked for several HSI campuses in California. David will also help develop new curricula in fields such as Indigenous studies, immigration policy and ethnic studies. He will be a great fit in HSS.”
“For me, community always comes first,” said Barillas Chón. “As Maya, I understand that if I am here, it is not because of my efforts only. I am here because of all the people who have helped me along my journey. Since we are young, we learn that our actions are directly related to the future of our communities, the future of our home.”
He started his doctoral studies in California, however the community work was more appealing at that stage, and he decided to postpone his studies.
“Central Americans have been in the U.S. for over a century. The population of Central American migrants continues to grow in Colorado and other states. Therefore, teaching Introduction to Central American Studies is essential for those majoring or minoring in Chicana/o and Latinx Studies and those interested in working with Latinx communities.”
–David Barillas Chón, Ph.D.
Barillas Chón faced challenges such as being undocumented, a factor that has significantly shaped his academic and community-oriented pursuits. He is keenly interested in ensuring that his academic work is not merely confined to the university setting, but that it resonates meaningfully with a broader audience, particularly those who share similar lived experiences.
He is constantly working to support and amplify the voices of marginalized communities, like when he studied the relationship between immigrants from Oaxaca and other immigrant communities from Mexico.
When Barillas Chón moved to Seattle to work at the University of Washington, he decided to return to his doctoral path.
“With all the community work that I did before, my research interest now was on how Indigenous peoples who are immigrants from Guatemala and Mexico, understand themselves as Indigenous peoples. And what it means for them now to be in the U.S. and still be Indigenous, how they were treated as Indigenous [people] in Guatemala and how they are treated here by the same people from their countries and other communities,” he said “In other words, how discrimination migrates with them. But here in the U.S. it is expanded because we have a system that discriminates [against] them even more.”
Previously, the new CLAS faculty member taught Indigenous Education, through an Indigenous Studies lens at Western University in London, Canada, for three years and then decided to come back to Colorado. At UNC, Barillas Chón will teach Introduction to Central American Studies and Mexican American Politics and Leadership.
Barillas Chón is excited to bring his research to the classroom. He looks forward to enriching students’ experience by helping them to have a broader understanding of Indigenous cultures and to deepen their commitment to continuing to politically mobilize for the economic, political, cultural, and linguistic sovereignty of Chicana/os and Latinxs regionally and nationally.
“Central Americans have been in the U.S. for over a century,” said Barillas Chón. “The population of Central American migrants continues to grow in Colorado and other states. Therefore, teaching Introduction to Central American Studies is essential for those majoring or minoring in Chicana/o and Latinx Studies and those interested in working with Latinx communities.”
Barillas Chón is planning to bring Indigenous guest speakers and people working directly with Indigenous communities to his classroom so students can learn from their first-hand experiences, ask questions and connect professionally with them.
Helping students in their academic success is only a small part of Barillas Chón’s mindset. For him, everything is interconnected and helping students is also helping their communities. The concept of relationality has been an important influence in Barillas Chón's pedagogy. His worldview is that human beings are always in a reciprocal relationship with others and with the world.
“Relationality is an essential aspect of who I am as an Indigenous person and how I see learning and teaching. So, I include classroom activities where students learn with and from each other,” said Barillas Chón.
Barillas Chón’s deep commitment to making a difference extends beyond academia. Drawing on his experiences, he has engaged in community work, recognizing the importance of bridging theory and practice. In addition, he has collaborated with nonprofits, such as Puentes Community Bridges, or Para los Niños, (For the Kids) where he helped low-income children pursue a formal education.
His passion for community engagement is evident in his work with teachers and social workers. By collaborating with educators, Barillas Chón strives to create awareness about the diverse experiences of recent immigrants and Indigenous communities. Taking a collaborative approach, he aims to enhance teaching practices and foster a more inclusive educational environment.
The dual focus on academia and community work is a unique strength that Barillas Chón brings to UNC. He sees these aspects as interconnected, emphasizing the role of academia in creating meaningful change beyond the university walls. His goal is not just to contribute to academic discourse, but also to witness tangible improvements in the lives of the communities he serves.
“I hope that, in the future, I won't have to write about the same issues repeatedly,” said Barillas Chón. “That 10 years from now, hopefully, Indigenous people are not going to be mistreated anymore.”
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