Jose Dominguez

Ph.D. student, Anthropology

Research Interests:
Jose studies the resilience of communities along the U.S.–Mexico border. His work focuses on how child migrants address gaps in their care systems by forming fictive kin networks, illuminating how resilience is collectively constructed. More broadly, he examines how external pressures reshape families and communities in the 21st century through migration, hardship and adaptation.

Road to the Moody School:
Jose earned his B.A. in anthropology from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2025. His research journey began in 2023 when he was selected as both a Mellon Mays Undergraduate Research Fellow and a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. His work with unaccompanied migrant youth shaped his commitment to studying resilience among vulnerable populations. In 2024, he was named a California State University Pre‑Doctoral Fellow, enabling him to visit doctoral programs nationwide. He chose SMU for its supportive community and outstanding faculty.