Biography
Wilfredo Cruz, PhD, is Associate Professor of Sociology in the Department of Humanities, History, and Social Sciences at Columbia College Chicago. Dr. Cruz earned his PhD from the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago. He teaches various courses in sociology, including “Introduction to Sociology,” “Social Problems in American Society,” “Race and Ethnic Relations,” and “Marriage and Family.” He also teaches "The Sociology of Sport and Social Inequality."
His areas of research interest include Latino Studies, Immigration, Race and Ethnic Relations, and studies in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexual Orientation. Dr. Cruz has published numerous articles on education, health, police brutality, politics, and community organizing in Latino and minority communities. A former reporter, Dr. Cruz was the Assistant Press Secretary for the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, and is the former Director of the Office of Public Information for the Chicago Public Library.
Dr. Cruz is the author of: Puerto Rican Chicago (2005, Arcadia Publishing), City of Dreams: Latino Immigration to Chicago (2007, University Press of America), Chicago Latinos at Work (2010, Arcadia Publishing), and Old Irving Park (2013, Arcadia Publishing).
Degrees
B.A., Sociology Northeastern Illinois University 1976
M.A., Political Science Northeastern Illinois University 1978
Ph.D., Social Service Administration University of Chicago 1987