Rate My Professor Marisol Clark-Ibáñez

Marisol Clark-Ibáñez, Ph.D., is a full professor in the Department of Sociology at California State University, San Marcos (CSUSM), where she has built a distinguished career since joining as an assistant professor in 2003. Promoted to associate professor in 2009 and full professor in 2016, she also served as director of the National Latino Research Center from 2016 to 2020. Prior roles include graduate lecturer and teaching coordinator at the University of California, Davis. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Davis (2003), an M.A. in Sociology from UC Davis (1997), and a B.A. in Literature with a minor in Sociology from the University of California, San Diego (1993). She studied at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México from 1991 to 1992.

Clark-Ibáñez's research specializations encompass undocumented Latino immigrants' experiences in education, Latinx civic engagement, immigration enforcement impacts, and culturally responsive pedagogy in computer science and sociology courses. Key publications include books Unauthorized: Portraits of Latino Immigration (with Richelle Swan, Rowman & Littlefield), Undocumented Latino Immigrants: Navigating Their Worlds (Lynne Rienner Publishers), and Spicing Up Sociology: The Use of Films in Sociology Courses (Wadsworth/Cengage Press). Influential peer-reviewed articles feature 'Framing the Social World with Photo-elicitation Interviews' (2004, American Behavioral Scientist, cited 1,341 times), 'Interethnic Dating: The Role of Social Network Diversity' (2004, Journal of Marriage and Family, cited 136 times), and recent contributions such as '‘I’ll be risking myself just to get an education’: How local-level immigration enforcement impacts undocumented students’ pathway to college' (2022, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies) and 'Cultivando Sabiduría (Cultivating Wisdom): Latinx Immigrant Elders and Civic Engagement' (2021, Humboldt Journal of Social Relations). She has authored multiple book chapters, including forthcoming works on equitable classroom practices. Clark-Ibáñez has earned prestigious awards, including the Harry E. Brakebill Distinguished Professor Award (2024-2025), Kerri Mowen Excellence in Faculty Mentoring Award (2022-2023), Impact Award from the Dreamer Resource Office (2022), Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching & Innovation (2014-2015), Vencerémos Award (2016-2017), and Latino Faculty Role Model Award (2009). As associate chair, internship and capstone coordinator, she advances social justice, mentoring, and community engagement in social science.