Project Title: Policing, Immigration Politics, and Latinx Activism in San Diego
Erica Salinas Thomas
Erica Salinas Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Rutgers University-Newark. She received her Ph.D. in government from Cornell University and her B.A. in political science from the University of California, San Diego. Before working at RU-N, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. Salinas Thomas’ scholarly work examines the intersections of race, criminal legal institutions, and political attitudes and behavior. Drawing on theoretical frameworks and methodologies from various disciplines, she examines how criminal legal contact shapes the perceptions of Latinx subgroups in the United States toward the law, government, and politics. Her research also explores how and when Latinx subgroups resist unfair police interactions and practices.
About the APSA Advancing Research Grants for Early Career Scholars
The APSA Diversity and Inclusion Advancing Research Grants provide support for research that examines political science phenomena affecting historically underserved communities and underrepresented groups and communities. In July 2024, APSA awarded ten projects for the APSA Diversity and Inclusion Advancing Research Grant for Early Career Scholars for a combined total award amount of $20,000. Read more about the funded projects here: