In Memory of Professor Ricardo Ortiz

Friend of the Gender⁺ Justice Initiative

We are heartbroken by the passing of Professor Ricardo L. Ortiz, a dear friend of the Gender⁺ Justice Initiative, founding supporter, and dedicated member of our Advisory Board. A devoted advocate for justice, equity, and the humanities at Georgetown, Professor Ortiz played a vital role in shaping our mission from the very beginning.

He offered his insight, care, and solidarity over the years, helping guide our work with generosity and vision. His brilliance as a scholar of Latinx and queer studies was matched by his deep commitment to mentoring students and building inclusive communities across campus.

Ricardo’s legacy lives on in the countless lives he touched. We will miss his warmth, wisdom, and fierce belief in a more just world.

With gratitude and love, we honor his memory.

Learn More About His Work

As a scholar of Latinx literature, queer theory, and gender studies, Professor Ricardo Ortiz shaped critical conversations across disciplines. His writing reflected both intellectual rigor and deep care for community, culture, and justice.

We invite you to explore a selection of his publications that reflect his lasting impact:

• Latinx Literature Now: Between Evanescence and Event (Palgrave Macmillan, 2019)
  Reviewed in Los Angeles Review of Books (March 2020)
• Cultural Erotics in Cuban America (University of Minnesota Press, 2007)
  Honorable Mention, 2008 Alan Bray Memorial Book Award (MLA)
• “Burning X’s: Critical Futurities within Latinx Studies’ Disidentifying Present”, Aztlán: A Journal of Chicano Studies (2020)
• “’Queer’ en Latin@”, GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies (2014)
• “Public Humanities at Georgetown University: A Narrative Case Study”, Post45 (2019)
  Read Online

For a more complete list of his publications, please contact the Department of English or visit his Page on Academia.edu.