Alexis Guizar-Diaz

Alexis Guizar-Diaz 01
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Alexis Lisandro Guizar-Diaz graduated in the spring of 2021 with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Philosophy. His key research interests are political economy, rural & agrarian communities, and Latina/o/x populations. He is a member of the American Sociological Association and a recipient of a 2020 Eastern Washington University Summer Research Internship through the McNair Scholars Program. In the 2019-2020 school year Alexis did research with the support of Dr. Mimi Marinucci and presented that research at the EWU virtual symposium in 2020 on “Machismo, Marianismo, and The Ethics of Care.” Alexis then conducted research during the summer of 2020 in Washington’s Columbia Basin under the mentorship of Dr. Edwin Elias from the Department of Race and Culture Studies. He also completed additional research throughout the 2020-2021 school year on designing a positive workplace for Washington farmworkers.

Alexis was accepted into the PhD Program in Sociology at Portland State University (PSU) and received full funding through a Resident Assistantship. He began attending PSU in the Fall of 2021. Continuing to pursue his PhD, he earned an MS in Sociology from PSU along the way in June 2023.


2020 McNair Faculty Research Mentor: Dr. Edwin Elias

Research Title: Indentured Servitude in the 21st Century? A Case Study on Agricultural Labor Employment in the Columbia Basin

Abstract:The agricultural industry has long had a dependence on immigrant populations. Labor roles, especially of the most degraded and intensive, have primarily been filled by individuals of Latinx decent, most commonly of Mexican origin. From 2007-2017 there has been an increase of over 1000% of requested H-2A guestworkers in Washington State. H-2A guestworker status allows for the possibility of higher wages and secure travel to the United States, however, as a subcontracted worker, conditions on and off the workplaces are structured by intermediary subcontracting middlemen companies. These companies are used to alleviate the various obligations farmers were historically expected to fulfil. Hence, not only do these companies control the workplace, but they also control nearly all aspects outside the workplace such as transportation, housing, and legalities. In this project, I seek to gain a better understanding of the cause of this exponential increase and how capital has structured labor conditions through draconian legislations that have enabled these subcontracted workers to not be protected by federal labors laws, to not be entitled to overtime pay, and to be actively denied the right to unionize.

2020-2021 Academic Year Ongoing Research: Designing Positive Workplace Interventions for Washington Farmworker: Listening to Farmworkers Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract: Washington state is a major agricultural producer. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of positive cases per capita was highest in Washington’s major agricultural counties. Like agricultural regions in other parts of the country, the population of these counties includes large numbers of seasonal workers from abroad. These seasonal workers are essential workers that support the U.S. food system through the COVID-19 public heath crisis. Why do they have higher than average rates of COVID-19 infection? The National Center for Farmworker Health, a non-governmental organization involved with monitoring the situation, has argued that poor state and federal safeguards for farmworkers (including terms of employment, housing quality, and access to health care and other benefits) are the ultimate cause of high infection rates. Past research (Roberton et al. 2013) has shown that interventions are most successful when laborers are directly involved in self-identifying problems and designing solutions. How do farmer workers themselves perceive the problem of high COVID infection rates, and how do they envision progressive change moving forward? What are the significant issues from their perspective? This project explores these questions through interviews with farmworkers and people working close with them.


McNair Alum Illuminate the Graduate School Experience

What a joy to see the faces of 6 former EWU McNair Scholars all on the same screen this summer! As a part of the culminating weeks of our intensive McNair Summer Research Internship that includes daily graduate school application and preparation seminars, these brilliant alumni joined us to share their insights and experiences as … Read more
12 McNair Scholars Present at EWU’s 2021 CSTEM and McNair Spring Research Symposium

12 EWU McNair Scholars Present at EWU Virtual Symposium

In June 2021, EWU held the CSTEM and McNair Spring Research Symposium. This online event offered a chance for McNair scholars to present their research, as well as attend the Social Justice in Research Panel of EWU McNair alumni now working in academics and education.  The mission of the federally-funded TRiO Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement … Read more
Article for Alexis Guizar Diaz

EWU McNair Scholar Alexis Guizar-Diaz Awarded Resident Assistantship at PSU

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Alexis Lisandro Guizar-Diaz. Alexis has been awarded a Resident Assistantship at Portland State University with full funding. He was accepted to the Sociology PhD program at Portland Statue University and started there in the fall of 2022.     The EWU McNair staff are so excited for Alexis and we … Read more
Congrats to Alexis

EWU McNair Scholar Alexis Guizar-Diaz Accepted to Portland State University PhD Program

  The EWU McNair staff are so excited for Alexis and we know he’ll do amazing things at whichever graduate program he decides to attend!

EWU McNair Scholar Alexis Guizar-Diaz Completes Summer Research Internship

Congratulations to EWU McNair Scholar Alexis Guizar-Diaz for completing his 2020 EWU McNair Summer Research Internship! With the mentorship of Dr. Edwin Elias, Alexis researched the exponential increase of requested H-2A guestworkers in Washington State and how capital has structured labor conditions. He is currently researching why the rate of positive COVID-19 cases per capita was … Read more
Congrats to Alexis Guizar-Diaz

EWU McNair Scholar Alexis Guizar-Diaz Awarded Orlinda H. Luiten Scholarship

Congratulations EWU McNair Scholar Alexis Guizar-Diaz! Alexis has been awarded the Orlinda H. (Rogel) Luiten Scholarship. This scholarship was awarded by Eastern Washington University in recognition of Alexis’ academic excellence. Currently Alexis is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Philosophy. His key research interests are political economy, rural & agrarian communities, … Read more

18 EWU McNair Scholars Present at EWU Virtual Symposium

EWU McNair is proud to announce that 18 EWU McNair Scholars presented at this year’s Virtual Symposium. In the midst of regular reminders of the suffering from COVID-19, in particular its disproportionate effect on communities of color, as well as recent police murders, we hope that lifting up our scholars will continue to support their … Read more

Alexis Guizar-Diaz Selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and Awarded Summer Research Internship

Congratulations Eastern Washington University student Alexis Guizar-Diaz! Alexis has been selected as an EWU McNair Scholar and awarded a summer research internship. McNair Scholars must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, are first generation college students and low-income and/or underrepresented students, and are selected for their promise as scholars and commitment to attaining a … Read more