Beatriz Carmen Rivas

Beatriz Carmen Rivas is a fourth-year History major, further enriched by her focus on American Indian Studies. Currently undertaking both college and departmental research, Beatriz is deeply invested in the exploration of corridos, the traditional Mexican narrative songs. Her research is centered on understanding how corridos offer an account of transnational events across the Mexico-USA borderlands from the 1980s to the early 2000s. By juxtaposing corrido lyrics with newspaper articles and declassified government records, she aims to uncover the depth of narratives these songs convey about borderland experiences. Drawing from subaltern studies, Beatriz endeavors to showcase the cultural and historical significance of corridos as poignant reflections of borderland stories. Through her work, she aspires to provide a broader appreciation of the intertwining of culture and history, shedding light on the dynamic interplay of events and their representation in corridos. Outside her academic pursuits, Beatriz is actively involved in community outreach programs and serves as a member of several cultural and heritage preservation societies on campus. Her future plans are to further her research in grad school and contribute meaningfully to the understanding of borderland narratives.