Joseph (“JoJo”) Ruanto-Ramirez

Joseph Allen (“JoJo”) Ruanto-Ramirez (he/they) is Tuwali Ifugao (Lagawe, Ifugao), and Ilokano (San Esteban, Ilocos Sur) on his father’s side; and Tina-Hambali and Aballen Sambal-Ita (Dirita – Iba, Zambales), and Iranun (Maguindanao) on his mother’s side. JoJo is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Claremont Graduate University in Cultural Studies – American Studies, with his dissertation titled “Locating Igorot Americans: On Indigenous Space and Time in Diaspora.” They earned their Master’s in Sociological Practice from California State University, San Marcos and wrote their thesis titled, Locating Their Penis: Pilipino American College Male Performativity, Sexuality, & the “Bahag Syndrome”; and they earned their Bachelor’s from the University of California, San Diego. JoJo currently resides in San Diego, California on occupied Kumeyaay land. They are an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies and Director of the Asian American Studies Program at Southwestern College, and a Visiting Professor in Asian American Studies at San Diego State University. They currently serve the role of Commissioner for Asian & Pacific Islander Relations for the County of San Diego Leon L. Williams Human Relations Commission.