Her work is challenging literary norms, centering Central American voices

Kayla McCormack | June 9, 2025

Sometimes, a single question can change everything.

For Evelyn Giron, who is graduating from UCLA with degrees in both English and Chicano studies, with a minor in Central American studies, that question was: “Where is all the Central American literature?” 

It was a moment of curiosity during office hours with UCLA’s Marissa López, a professor with appointments in English and Chicano studies, that set Giron on a transformative academic journey. López responded by pulling books off her shelf, among them “I, Rigoberta Menchú” and “The Tattooed Soldier.”

“I remember I went home and read both books back-to-back in two days because I was so excited,” Giron said. “That one question changed the trajectory of my undergraduate experience.”

Giron, who graduates in June, didn’t always imagine herself immersed in literature and research. She originally started at UCLA as a biology major, partly because of how much she loved biology as a high school student. But, she enrolled in English 100, “Ways of Reading Race,” to fulfill general education requirements, and it changed her academic trajectory.

“Every single reading was so enlightening,” she said. “After that, I started taking more English classes and ultimately decided to switch my major to English.”

As she continued exploring Central American literature through her English coursework, she deepened her interest in Chicano studies, which she later added as a second major.

As a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, Giron was able to really dive into her research interests. The program, which supports undergraduates studying in the humanities, arts and social sciences who are interested in pursuing a doctorate, allowed her to spend a summer deepening her studies at the University of Chicago.

A novel approach to literary analysis

Giron’s undergraduate research interest has focused on migration narratives stemming from the Guatemalan Civil War. Her recently submitted senior thesis challenges traditional interpretations of “The Tattooed Soldier,” a novel that follows two Guatemalan immigrants in Los Angeles. Instead of using a more traditional diasporic lens, which usually centers on the migrant’s life in the United States, she analyzed the work as a migration narrative grounded in the political, historical and cultural realities of Guatemala.

“There’s a tendency to only focus on the migrant once they arrive in the U.S.,” she said. “But what about the forces that made them leave? I [used] a comparative colonial lens, pairing African American migration with Central American migration to explore the intimacy between these marginalized communities.”

Throughout her time at UCLA, Giron found support, community and purpose in the Academic Advancement Program, which supports first-generation, low-income and underrepresented students.

“Their values and the way that AAP continues to function and to serve students are one of the most beautiful aspects of UCLA,” she said. “The work I do, the research I pursue, is all justice-oriented. It’s about advocating for marginalized communities, and AAP nurtured that.”

She also worked as a Peer Learning Facilitator for the program, which allowed her to help other students engage deeply with literature, a role that affirmed her love for teaching and mentorship.

Connecting Bruins to grassroots organizations

Giron was also deeply involved in outreach efforts through community-engaged courses, which connect UCLA students to grassroots organizations in the greater Los Angeles area. 

One course on refugee literature introduced her to Al Otro Lado, an immigration advocacy group. Giron and her classmates were tasked with compiling resource guides for immigrants arriving in the United States, with each student researching services by state.

“It was an incredible experience,” she said. “We created something practical and impactful that would actually help people.”

Looking ahead, Giron is leaving UCLA with a bright outlook, one filled with hopes. She is heading to Columbia to pursue a doctorate in English and comparative literature. Following that, she wants to become a professor, not only to continue conducting research but also to teach and mentor students.

“I’ve been talking about literature with students for over two years now,” she said. “That’s a core part of who I am.”

She plans to stay involved in community organizing and advocacy in the years ahead — work that grounds her academically and personally.

“I want to stay connected to community-based work. That’s where everything stems from for me,” she said.