Ximena Cid

Ximena Cid is a distinguished Chicana and Indigenous American physicist known for her contributions to education, advocacy, and research. Currently an associate professor and past chair of the physics department at California State University Dominguez Hills, she has been a pioneer in promoting diversity within STEM fields. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington, becoming the first Latina and Indigenous student to do so. Born in Sacramento, California, Cid grew up in a family deeply involved in the Chicano Movement and American Indian Movement, alongside notable figures like Chavez and Huerta.

Her academic journey began at UC Berkeley, where she majored in astrophysics with a focus on space physics. Financially supported by playing violin in a mariachi band, she graduated in 2005, with her father designing her commencement cap. Post-graduate, she held positions at Dallas College and the University of Washington before joining California State Dominguez Hills.

Cid's career is marked by significant outreach efforts, including co-founding the Society for Indigenous Physicists in 2020 and organizing initiatives like Día de la Física to support Latinx and Indigenous students. She has collaborated with NASA on educational projects and actively participated in movements such as #ShutDownSTEM and #Strike4BlackLives.

Her publications include works on gender equity and Indigenous representation in physics. Cid's accolades include the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service and a Winter Fellowship from the American Association of Physics Teachers, underscoring her impactful contributions to both science and society.