Confluencenter Team

Javier Duran (PhD) is Professor of Latin-American and Border Studies at the Center for Latin American Studies and the founding director of the Confluencenter for Creative Inquiry at the University of Arizona. He is a specialist in cultural and interdisciplinary studies along the U.S.-Mexico border and a native of the Arizona-Sonora desert region. Dr. Duran’s areas of teaching and research include U.S.-Mexico border studies, Latin American Cultural Studies, Mexican women’s literature and culture, and Chicana/Chicano-Latina/Latino narrative. He is the author of the book José Revueltas.

Yazmin joined as the Administrative Associate for the Confluencenter in 2018. Passionate about bridging the gap between academia and the community, she strives to bring interdisciplinary research to life by serving as a liaison between faculty, staff, students, alumni, outside agencies and the public.

For the last 16 years, Hiram has developed and managed education and research projects in sustainable regional development. Before moving to Tucson in December 2015, Hiram worked at the binational nonprofit organization Intercultural Center for the Study of Deserts and Oceans, CEDO in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. At CEDO, Hiram advocated for communities and created productive and long-lasting partnerships resulting in a better understanding and use of natural resources. In January 2018, Hiram joined the Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice at the University of Arizona.

Elizabeth Gaxiola (PhD) is a Latina interdisciplinary scholar. Her transnational identity has cultivated her research and teaching interests. She gained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a Spanish minor and her Master of Arts in Education with a focus on Indigenous and Multicultural Education and Language Planning & Policy. She received her doctoral degree in the Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies Department at the University of Arizona with a focus on Social Justice & Diversity and Immigration & Education.

Susan Barnett joined the Confluencenter in the Spring of 2024 as the Graduate Communications Specialist. She is a graduate student pursuing a masters in Bilingual Journalism at the University of Arizona. Susan was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, traveling to and from Nogales, Sonora to visit family periodically. 

Adam Fehse is an accomplished senior pursuing a degree in Computer Science at the University of Arizona.

When not immersed in technology or culinary arts, Adam finds solace in his creative pursuits. He enjoys writing during his free time.

Sage Furrer is a Retail and Consumer Science major who just recently transferred to the U of A from Pima Community College. In her free time Sage is usually engaged in something creative, which mainly consists of drawing fanart. When she isn't doing that, Sage can be found hanging out at her weekly Tabletop RPG group with her friends.

Hello my name is Esperanza Fernandez and I have lived in Tucson my whole life. I am in my sophomore year here at the University of Arizona. I am majoring in Journalism with a minor in Fashion Industry’s Science & Technology. My goal is to work for ESPN as a sideline reporter. In my free time I enjoy watching anything sports related and attending sporting events.

Hi! My name is Victoria Gonzalez. I am from the Phoenix area. I am a sophomore majoring in Psychology and Journalism and minoring in Theater. I plan to be a Psychologist after graduation. I enjoy traveling and going to see shows in the theater.