Education and Professional Development
PhD – Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University – Toronto, Canada – 2016-present
Dissertation: Bringing Autonomy Home: The Influence of Zapatismo on North American Movements
Supervisor: Dr. Stefan Kipfer Committee: Dr. Anna Zalik, Dr. Lesley J Wood
Master’s of Social Sciences – Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales – Quito, Ecuador – 2006-2009
Thesis: Entre Sospecha y Ciudadanía: Refugiados colombianos en Quito
(Between Suspicion and Citizenship: Colombian refugees in Quito)
Supervisor: Dr. Gioconda Herrera Committee: Dr. Adrián Bonilla, Dr. Gardenia Chávez
Bachelor of Arts (Magna Cum Laude) – DePauw University – Greencastle, IN – 2002-2006
Concentrations: Conflict Studies and Spanish
Honors Thesis: Neoliberalism and the Normalization of Violence in Plan Colombia
Advisor: Dr. Glen Kuecker Committee: Dr. David Gellman, Dr. Susan Runkle
Culture and Development Program – School for International Training – Quito, Ecuador – Feb-May, 2005
Semester-long, accredited study abroad program
Capstone: Refugiados colombianos y la precariedad legal (Colombian refugees and legal precarity)
Organizing for Social Change Training – Midwest Academy – Chicago, IL – October, 2005
Academic Employment
2019 – 2020: Teaching Assistant, York University
Course: Environmental Studies (ENVS) 2200: “Foundations of Urban and Regional Environments”
2018 – 2019: Teaching Assistant York University
Course: Sociology (SOCI) 2050: “Social Structure and Social Change”
2017 – 2018: Teaching Assistant, York University
Course: Environmental Studies (ENVS) 1200: “Taking Action”
2016 – 2017: Teaching Assistant, York University
Course: Social Science (SOSC) 1349: “Introduction to Business and Society”
2010 – 2014: Course Director, Master’s and Undergraduate Semester Program in Mexico offered by Autonomous University of Social Movements, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco
Courses: Sociology (SOC) 353/553: “Mexican Social Movements”, Political Science (POLI SCI) 352/552: “Modern Mexico”, Economics (ECON) 351/551: “Political Economy”, Anthropology (ANTH) 303/503: “Mexican Culture”
2013: Course Director, Master’s in Community Organizing offered by Autonomous University of Social Movements,
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Courses: Educational Policy (ED POL) 713: “Structural/Political Analysis in Community Engagement and Popular Education”
2013: Course Director, Undergraduate Summer Program in Cuba offered by Autonomous University of Social Movements, Centro Memorial Martin Luther King
Courses: Political Science (POLI SCI) 352: “Cuba yesterday and today”
2012, 2013: Course Director, Master’s and Undergraduate Participatory Action Research offered by Autonomous University of Social Movements, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco
Courses: Research (RES) 409/509: “Participatory Action Research Methods”, Research (RES) 410/510: “Guided Research”, Research (RES) 411/511: “Research Seminar”
2010, 2012: Course Director, Master’s and Undergraduate Summer Program in Mexico offered by Autonomous University of Social Movements, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco
Courses: Sociology (SOC) 357/557: “Mexican Social Movements”, Political Science (POLI SCI) 352-552: “Modern Mexico”
Publications and Conference Papers
Refereed Publications
Books
Schussler, Stuart. 2009. Entre Sospecha y Ciudadanía: Refugiados colombianos en Quito. Quito: Abya Yala. ISBN: 9978228675
Articles
Schussler, Stuart. 2018. “Understanding Capitalism through Ayotzinapa: The Mexican Drug War as a ‘Pyrrhic Loss.’” In Global Labour Research Centre: Graduate Student Symposium Proceedings, Mark P Thomas and Jordan House, eds. Toronto: Global Labour Research Centre, York University.
Other Publications
Research Publications
Schussler, Stuart. 2017. “Paths from the caracol: A preliminary report on interviews with study abroad alumni.” Chicago, IL: Mexico-US Solidarity Network.
Schussler, Stuart. 2016. “Community Land Trusts as a Tool for Building Autonomy and Fighting Gentrification.” Action Speaks Louder, Winter: 6-7.
Casas del Pueblo Community Land Trust. 2013. “The Housing Crisis and the Working Poor: Problems and Solutions from the Community Level.” Chicago, IL: Mexico-US Solidarity Network.
Conference Papers
Schussler, Stuart. 2020. “Zapatismo in transit: Relations and distance between student-activists and Indigenous autonomists.” American Educational Research Association Conference. San Francisco, CA: Moscone Convention Center. April 17, 2020.
Jamal, Shaker and Stuart Schussler. 2019. “Social Movement Unionism for Who?” Canadian Association for Work and Labour Studies Conference. Vancouver, BC: University of British Columbia. June 6, 2019.
Schussler, Stuart. 2017. “The Mexican Drug War and Accumulation by Dispossession.” Global Labour Research Centre Conference. Toronto, ON: York University. October 26, 2017.
Schussler, Stuart. 2017. “Migration and dispossession understood through Mexico’s crisis.” Centre for Refugee Studies Conference. Toronto, ON: York University. October 12, 2017.
Schussler, Stuart. 2017. “Zapatismo and beyond: Towards a theory of autonomy and its practice in North America.” Canadian Association for Studies in Co-Operation, New Cooperativism stream. Toronto, ON: Ryerson University. June 1, 2017.
Schussler, Stuart. 2017. “The Zapatistas and the Hydra: Responding to Mexico’s Crisis.” Society for Socialist Studies. Toronto, ON: Ryerson University. June 1, 2017.
Schussler, Stuart. 2008. “Colombian Refugees in Ecuador: Informality, Citizenship and the Post-Social.” Pacific Coast Council on Latin American Studies Conference. Las Vegas: University of Nevada- Las Vegas. November 8, 2008.
Journalism
Schussler, Stuart. 2008. “Refugees in Ecuador: Organizing for Human Rights.” Upsidedownworld.org. October 23, 2008.
Schussler, Stuart. 2008. “Refugees in Ecuador: Putting Post-Neoliberalism to the Test.” Upsidedownworld.org. October 15, 2008.
Schussler, Stuart. 2008. “Refugees in Ecuador: Plan Colombia and the Asylum Lottery.” Upsidedownworld.org. October 6, 2008.
Schussler, Stuart. 2005. “Activists Protest History of Infamy at the School of the Americas.” Upsidedownworld.org. November 26, 2005.
Schussler, Stuart. 2005. “Copper versus Ecology in Ecuador.” Towardfreedom.com. September 14, 2005.
Invited Lectures
University Conferences
Schussler, Stuart. 2016. “Participatory Action Research as a Tool for Anti-Racist Allies.” Toronto Research and Action Community Exchange. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto. March 5, 2016.
Schussler, Stuart. 2014. “Reverse Service Learning and Cross-Border Community Organizing.” Service Speaks Conference. Chicago: DePaul University. May 9, 2014.
Schussler, Stuart and Anthony Nelson. 2012. “Education Is Not Neutral! Using popular education pedagogy to build powerful social actors and social movements.” Education Today: Our Passport to the Dream Conference. Valparaiso, IN: Valparaiso University. January 17, 2012.
University Lectures
Schussler, Stuart. 2020. “Zapatismo’s Lessons for Community Organizers.” Political Economy of Culture course, Intercultural Communication graduate program. Baltimore, MD: University of Maryland Baltimore County. November 19, 2020.
Schussler, Stuart. 2019. “Environmental Planning in the Anthropocene.” The Role of Urban Planning in Corporate Organization, presented by the Business and Society Student Association. Toronto, ON: York University. November 11, 2019.
Obando, Pablo and Stuart Schussler. 2015. “The Human Rights Debate: Between the Cynicism of Mexican Authorities and the Dignity of the People.” Middlebury, VT: Middlebury College; Plattsburgh, NY: State University of New York- Plattsburgh; Burlington, VT: University of Vermont; Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts; Boston, MA: University of Massachusetts- Boston; Worcester, MA: Clark University; Boston, MA: Northeastern University; Providence, RI: Brown University; Waltham, MA: Brandeis University; New London, CT: Connecticut College. March 9-23, 2015.
Rivera Martínez, Luz and Stuart Schussler. 2015. “Maíz y el País: Political Violence in Mexico and Corn’s Lessons for Justice.” Philadelphia, PA: Villanova University; Haverford, PA: Haverford College; Philadelphia, PA: Temple University; Brooklyn, NY: Brooklyn College; New York, NY: Union Theological Seminary; Queens, NY: Queens College; New York, NY: City University of New York Graduate Center; Poughkeepsie, NY: Vassar College; New Paltz, NY: State University of New York- New Paltz; Albany, NY: State University of New York- Albany; Ithaca, NY: Cornell University; Fredonia, NY: State University of New York- Fredonia. February 16-27, 2015.
Schussler, Stuart. 2014. “Immigrant Community Organizing in Chicago.” University Community Service Center Lecture Series. Chicago: University of Chicago. August 1, 2014.
Hernández, Azalia and Stuart Schussler. 2014. “Justice for Chiapas!: Autonomy and Human Rights in the Indigenous Communities of Southern Mexico.” Wooster, OH: College of Wooster; Delaware, OH: Ohio Wesleyan University; Louisville, KY: University of Louisville; Nashville, TN: Vanderbilt University; Murfreesboro, TN: Middle Tennessee State University; Bloomington, IN: Indiana University; Greencastle, IN: DePauw University. March 25 – April 4, 2014.
Rivera Martínez, Luz and Stuart Schussler. 2014. “Sowing Struggle: Social Movements and the Future of Corn in Tlaxcala, Mexico.” Dubuque, IA: Loras College; Iowa City, IA: University of Iowa; Grinnell, IA: Grinnell College; Lawrence, KS: University of Kansas; Kansas City, MO: University of Missouri- Kansas City; St Louis, MO: Saint Louis University; St Louis, MO: Washington University; Galesburg, IL: Knox College. February 17-28, 2014.
Rivera Martínez, Luz and Stuart Schussler. 2013. “Sowing Struggle: Social Movements and the Future of Corn in Tlaxcala, Mexico.” Baltimore, MD: University of Maryland- Baltimore County; Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University; Washington, DC: American University; Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina; Richmond, VA: Virginia Commonwealth University; Greensboro, NC: Guilford College; Spartanburg, SC: Wofford College; Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina; Sarasota, FL: New College of Florida. September 16-26, 2013.
Matus, Gubidcha and Stuart Schussler. 2012. “Justice Now!: Human Rights in the Indigenous Communities of Chiapas.” Poughkeepsie, NY: Vassar College; New Paltz, NY: State University of New York- New Paltz; New Haven, CT: Yale University; New London, CT: Connecticut College; Boston, MA: Northeastern University; Albany, NY: State University of New York- Albany; Syracuse, NY: LeMoyne College; Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College; Purchase, NY: State University of New York- Purchase; Queens, NY: City University of New York Law School. November 5-15, 2012.
Méndez, Italia and Stuart Schussler. 2012. “We Survived Torture: Lessons from the Fight Against Sexual Violence and State Repression in Mexico.” Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin; Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis Community Technical College; Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota; Northfield, MN: Carleton College; St Paul, MN: Macalester College; Galesburg, IL: Knox College; Urbana, IL: University of Illinois; Chicago, IL: University of Illinois- Chicago; Chicago, IL: DePaul University; Chicago, IL: University of Chicago. October 15-26, 2012.
Rivera Martínez, Luz and Stuart Schussler. 2012. “Sowing Struggle: Urban and Rural Social Movements in Tlaxcala, Mexico.” San Francisco, CA: California Institute for Integral Studies; San Francisco, CA: San Francsico State University; San Francisco, CA: University of San Francisco; Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University; Sacramento, CA: Sacramento State University; Fresno, CA: California State University- Fresno; Santa Barbara, CA: University of California- Santa Barbara; Los Angeles, CA: California State University- Los Angeles; Dominguez Hills, CA: California State University- Dominguez Hills; San Diego, CA: San Diego City College. October 1-11, 2012.
Schussler, Stuart. 2012. “The Winds of Change: Lessons in Solidarity and Community Organizing with the Mexico Solidarity Network.” Watson Forum Lecture Series. Greencastle, IN: DePauw University. September 24, 2012.
Rivera Martínez, Luz and Stuart Schussler. 2011. “Sowing Struggle: Urban and Rural Social Movements in Tlaxcala, Mexico.” Seattle, WA: University of Washington; Tacoma, WA: Pacific Lutheran University; Bellingham, WA: Western Washington University; Moscow, ID: University of Idaho; Pullman, WA: Washington State University; Walla Walla, WA: Whitman College; Portland, OR: Lewis and Clark College; Forest Grove, OR: Pacific University; Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University; Eugene, OR: University of Oregon; Olympia, WA: Evergreen State University. November 7-17, 2011.
Ruíz Guillén, Priscilla and Stuart Schussler. 2011. “Justice Now!: Human Rights in the Indigenous Communities of Chiapas.” Urbana, IL: University of Illinois; Indianapolis, IN: Butler University; Greencastle, IN: DePauw University; Chicago, IL: DePaul University; Chicago, IL: University of Illinois- Chicago; Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin; Beloit, WI: Beloit College; Valparaiso, IN: Valparaiso University. October 25 – November 5, 2011.
Cárdenas, Macrina and Stuart Schussler. 2011. “On the Edge of Reason: Border Dynamics and the Spread of Violence.” Clemson, SC: Clemson University; Spartanburg, SC: Wofford College; Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina; Greensboro, NC: Guilford College; Durham, NC: Duke University; Boone, NC: Warren Wilson College; Charlotte, NC: University of North Carolina- Charlotte. September 19-29, 2011.
Schussler, Stuart. 2010. “Beyond the Narco Conflict: The State of Mexican Social Movements.” Watson Forum Lecture Series. Greencastle, IN: DePauw University. September 4, 2010.
Hernández, Patricia and Stuart Schussler. 2010. “Autonomous Education from Chiapas to Mexico City: Urban Zapatista Links.” Baltimore, MD: University of Maryland- Baltimore County; Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University; Clarion, PA: Clarion University of Pennsylvania; Ithaca, NY: Ithaca College; Ithaca, NY: Cornell University; Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University; New York, NY: Union Theological Seminary; Queens, NY: City University of New York Law School; Bronxville, NY: Sarah Lawrence College. October 19-29, 2010.
Flores, Norberto and Stuart Schussler. 2010. “The Bracero Story: Stolen Wages and the Struggle of Mexican Guest Workers.” Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma City College; Norman, OK: University of Oklahoma; Dallas, TX: University of Texas- Dallas; Austin, TX: University of Texas; Edinburg, TX: University of Texas- Pan American. October 4-14, 2010.
López Ovalle, Edith and Stuart Schussler. 2010. “Memory, Culture, and Political Organizing in Mexico.” San Francisco, CA: California Institute for Integral Studies; San Francisco, CA: University of San Francisco; San Francisco, CA: San Francisco State University; Oakland, CA: Laney College; Berkeley, CA: University of California; Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University; Sacramento, CA: Sacramento State University; Stockton, CA: University of the Pacific; Fresno, CA: California State University- Fresno; Fullerton, CA: California State University- Fullerton; Los Angeles, CA: California State University- Los Angeles; Los Angeles, CA: University of Southern California; San Diego, CA: San Diego City College. October 19-30, 2009.
Muñoz, Felipe and Stuart Schussler. 2009. “Public Forum on Immigrant Rights.” Hartford, CT: Trinity College. April 16, 2009.
Santiago, Jorge and Stuart Schussler. 2009. “The Solidarity Economy: Indigenous Struggle and Alternatives to Capitalism.” New York, NY: City University of New York; Ithaca, NY: Cornell University; Greencastle, IN: DePauw University; Bloomington, IN: Indiana University; Indianapolis, IN: Butler University; Milwaukee, WI: Milwaukee Area Technical College. March 23 – April 3, 2009.
Social Justice Lectures
Schussler, Stuart. 2017. “The End Immigration Detentions Network, Fighting Against Indefinite Detention.” Criminalizing Resistance: The Joint Struggles of Land Defenders, and Human Rights Activists. Toronto, ON: University of Toronto. April 22, 2017.
Schussler, Stuart. 2017. “Mexico-US Relations During the End of Neoliberalism.” Latin American Solidarity Committee of the Western New York Peace Center. Buffalo, NY: Canisius College. March 27, 2017.
Schussler, Stuart, Karl Gardner, Sharmeen Khan, and Tracey Mann. 2016. “Grassy Narrows First Nation and the Struggle Against Mercury Poisoning.” Toronto, ON: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education; Toronto: Saint Stephen-In-The-Fields Church; Toronto: Beit Zatoun; Toronto: University of Toronto. May 16 – 31, 2016.
Kipfer, Stefan and Stuart Schussler. 2016. “Housing, Privatization, and Community Land Trusts in Toronto.” Hands-Off Toronto Coalition. Toronto, ON: Ontario Public Service Employees Union Regional Office. February 21, 2016.
Schussler, Stuart. 2013. “Caminar Preguntando: Social movements building autonomy in Mexico and the US.” School of the Americas Watch Conference. Columbus, GA. November 23, 2013.
Schussler, Stuart. 2012. “Zapatista-Inspired Movements in Mexico and the US.” School of the Americas Watch Conference. Columbus, GA. November 22, 2012.
Selected Employment Experience
2009 – 2015: Director of International Education – Mexico-US Solidarity Network / Autonomous University of Social Movements / Centro Autónomo of Albany Park, Chicago, IL
Duties: Design curricula and teach graduate and undergraduate-level courses in Mexico, Cuba, and Chicago on social movements; Administer finances, student applications, university and international partnerships, logistics, health and safety policy, and promotion of study abroad programs; Coordinate, lecture on, and interpret during university speaking tours with Mexican activists; Coordinate and carry out community organizing and popular education campaigns on housing and adult education.
2008 – 2009: English as a Second Language Teacher – Lawrence Township Schools, Indianapolis, IN
Duties: Taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, assisting recent-immigrant students with English literacy, study skills, and their transition between cultures.
2007 – 2008: English Teacher – French Ministry of Education, Paris, France
Duties: Taught English to eight separate classes of elementary students in the Parisian suburbs.
2005 – 2006: Spanish Tutor – Modern Languages Department, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
Duties: Assisted university students learning Spanish and workshopped essays.
2004: Field Recruiter – Migrant Education Program, Indiana Department of Education, rural IN
Duties: Enrolled the children of migrant farmworkers in a free, no questions asked summer tutoring program.
Selected Community Involvement
2015 – present: No One Is Illegal, Toronto, ON
General member, organizing around the human rights to move across borders, remain on ancestral land, and return home.
2015 – 2017: Eastenders Against Hate, Toronto, ON
Monitor and oppose the resurgence of white nationalist, xenophobic groups. Coordinated a campaign to end the distribution of the Neo-Nazi newspaper “Your Ward News” to 77,000 homes by Canada Post.
2015 – present: Board of Directors – Mexico-US Solidarity Network, Chicago, IL
Advise organization on their long-term, strategic vision.
2015 – 2016: Member – Ad-Hoc Coalition in Solidarity with Ayotzinapa, Toronto, ON
Coordinate events demanding justice after the forced disappearance of 43 rural teachers’ college students in Guerrero, Mexico.
2005 – 2006: Human Rights Observer – Intag Solidarity Network, Junín, Ecuador
Videotaped, documented, and diffused information on a peasant community’s demand for prior, informed consent regarding a proposed open-pit copper mine.
2005 – 2006: Co-Host – WGRE 91.5, Greencastle, IN
Planned, produced, and co-hosted a weekly world music radio program.
2003 – 2006: Intern – Compton Center for Peace and Justice, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
Coordinated teach-ins, guest lectures, and student initiatives concerning social justice.
2000 – 2002: Vestry Member – Church of the Nativity, Indianapolis, IN
Youth outreach, within a team of laypeople dedicated to day-to-day church business.
Languages
English (Fluent Oral and Written; Simultaneous and Consecutive Interpretation to Spanish)
Spanish (Fluent Oral and Written; Simultaneous and Consecutive Interpretation to English)
French (Conversant Oral)
Stuart Schussler 