Jason De León

Michael Wells

Jason De León is a professor of Anthropology and Chicana/o Studies and the director of the Cotsen Institute of Archaeology at UCLA. He is also executive director of the Undocumented Migration Project, a 501(c)3 research, arts and education collective that seeks to raise awareness about migration issues globally while also assisting families of missing migrants reunite with their loved ones.

De León comes to Tucson with "Soldiers and Kings," which won the 2024 National Book Award for nonfiction.

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Awards: MacArthur Fellow, National Book Award

Communities: Asian American, Hispanic or Latinx, Mixed Race

National Book Awards: Realities of Writing

Join these 2024 National Book Award honorees to hear real-life inspirations behind their books, and how they polished ideas and fascinations into their final drafts. Moderated by Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation, this session is presented in partnership with the NBF.

Campus Store (Seats 250)  
Sat, Mar 15, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
National Book Awards
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Lower Level (following presentation)  

Panelists: Jason De León, Violet Duncan, Octavio Quintanilla, Ernest Scheyder
Moderator: Ruth Dickey

El Sueño Americano

Examine the complexities of immigration, the U.S.-Mexico border, and the pursuit of the American Dream through the eyes of storytellers who weave together politics, history, sociology, and personal experience into compelling, unforgettable narratives.

Nuestras Raíces Stage (Seats 150)  
Sun, Mar 16, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Nuestras Raices
Signing area: Pima County Public Library/Nuestras Raíces/Craft Tent & Signing Area (following presentation)  

Panelists: Jason De León, Alejandra Oliva, Paola Ramos, Rudy Ruiz
Moderator: Dr. Carlos Parra

Unexpected Legacy of History

How does a coyote leave the smuggling life? How do multiple generations cope with the legacy of slavery? How do migrant farm workers reclaim their names and their legacy? Our authors explore the very personal ripple effects of history’s weight.

Koffler Room 204 (Seats 300, Wheelchair accessible)  
Sun, Mar 16, 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Memoir / Essays / Creative Nonfiction
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Tent (on Mall) (following presentation)  

Panelists: Jason De León, Lee Hawkins, Tim Hernandez
Moderator: Jill Jorden Spitz

Books:

Soldiers and Kings

Survival and Hope in the World of Human Smuggling
Current Issues / Politics / Social Science
Penguin Publishing Group
March 2024
ISBN 9780593298589
400 pages

The Land of Open Graves

Living and Dying on the Migrant Trail

University of California Press
January 2015
ISBN 9780520282759
358 pages