Marcela Rojas was born and raised in Costa Rica. She studied in México, Spain, and Puerto Rico, where she earned a BFA in painting at the Escuela de Artes Plásticas.

In Puerto Rico, she opened an after-school art workshop. She then taught art in Colorado Springs and later moved to California, where she earned a Master of Fine Arts in painting and a Master of Arts in Spanish literature, language, and culture at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA).

Marcella went on to earn her PhD in late 19th century Peninsular Literature with a minor in Spanish cinema from the University of California, Irvine. Her interest in Chicana(o)/Latina(o) studies motivated her to further her education and complete another Master’s degree in Ethnic Studies from CSULA.

Her areas of interest include the decolonization of the syllabus and the classroom textbook, Ethnic Studies pedagogy, Sentipensante pedagogy, Culturally Relevant pedagogy, Critical Race Theory pedagogy, service-learning, and study abroad.

When Marcela is not in class or traveling, she gardens in her California native plant garden or cooks new vegetarian dishes.