Raul Moreno Social Sciences

My name is Raul Moreno and I'm a first year graduate student in the department of Political Science. I was born in San Salvador, El Salvador and spent much of my formative years there during the period of the civil war. I moved to North Hollywood to a predominantly working-class Latino neighborhood just before to the signing of the Salvadoran peace accords in 1992. Prior to commencing my undergraduate career at UCLA, I attended J.H. Francis Polytechnic's Math and Science Magnet in Sun Valley, C.A. with the intention of gaining a grounding in mathematics and biology in order to pursue a major that would prepare me for medical school. However, I quickly discovered that I had a passion for the Social Sciences, and by the time I entered UCLA as an undergraduate in 1999 I knew I wanted to purse work and research in the field of Political Science. After surviving my undergraduate experience, I graduated from the Political Science Department in 2006 with Departmental Honors and entered the graduate program in the fall of 2007.

My affinity to the study of politics and history stems largely from my experience as an inmigrante salvadoreno. I have a particular interest in the intersectional nature of class, race, and ethnicity, as well as in the study of the nature and exercise of power. With this in mind, as a graduate student I focus on immigration, citizenship, and contemporary notions of belonging and political community. Aside from academic pursuits, I am obsessed with Mesoamerican history and archeology. I also enjoy watercolor painting, exercising (when I get a chance), fish-keeping, and playing, as my friend George Turner says, "politically-incorrect video games." If you have any questions about the road to Graduate School, or just life at UCLA in general, stop by and let's talk! I would love to hear your ideas, aspirations, and concerns and would be more than happy to help you along the way.