Ana Rosas, Chicano/Latino studies and history assistant professor, has received a $40,000 Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship in support of her research on cross-border family relationships of Mexican immigrants. Looking specifically at the 1940s to 1960s, she aims to fill what she calls a gap in the history books on the struggles and sacrifices made by immigrant families.  
 
"This generation's trajectory is among the most understudied and undervalued," says Rosas. "Their contributions and sacrifices inspired and sustained one of the largest waves of Mexican immigration to and from the United States."  
 
Through interviews with participants of the mid-twentieth century U.S.-Mexico guest worker Bracero program, she will document their distinct approach to immigrant family life across borders, answering questions such as how decisions to come to the U.S. affected family relationships.  
 
The topic served as the focus of her dissertation while at the University of Southern California where she earned her B.A. in history, American studies, and ethnicity, and M.A. and Ph.D. in history. She is a past recipient of a Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship, Stanford University Center for the Study of the North American West Doctoral Fellowship and University of California President's Postdoctoral Fellowship.  
 
Her current fellowship funding begins in July and will run through June 2010 during which time she will work with her faculty mentor, George Lipsitz, UC Santa Barbara Black studies professor, on compiling her findings into a book.