Emma Pérez, got her degrees at the University of California at Los Angeles. She is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Texas, El Paso, and has written numerous essays in feminist theory and is author of the novel Gulf Dreams. She has taught at several universities in the areas of History, Chicano Studies, and Ethnic and Women's Studies.

Professor Pérez is presently a Rockefeller Fellow and associate professor in the department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is a member of several professional associations including, the National Association for Chicano Studies; Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social; Texas State Historical Association and the American Historical Association.

Dr. Pérez sits on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Chicana Studies and serves as Chair of the Institute of Oral History at the University of Texas, El Paso. She is a founding member of MALS (Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social). She has received various honors and awards including grants, fellowships and others.