Profile

Dr. Gisela Landázuri Benítez, a graduate and master's degree holder in Economics from the Faculty of Economics at UNAM, as well as a master's degree holder in Anthropology of Culture and Language and a PhD in Anthropological Sciences from the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Iztapalapa Campus, has been a distinguished academic in the Department of Politics and Culture at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Xochimilco Campus, since 1983. For over three decades, she taught in the Graduate Program in Rural Development at this institution, significantly contributing to the education of new generations of specialists in this area.

Author of five books and numerous articles and book chapters, both in Mexico and abroad, Dr. Landázuri has also coordinated several collective works, establishing herself as a key figure in research and dissemination on topics related to culture and identity in rural areas, as well as religious and popular festivals.

In the last years of her career, she focused intensively on sociocultural community studies and projects in San Gregorio Atlapulco, Xochimilco, where she connected her research with the university’s service mission, promoting the dissemination and strengthening of local culture and identity through various collaborative activities such as the creation of videos, CDs, interactive books, artistic exhibitions, and the coordination of a community mural. These projects involved the collaboration of students providing social service and academics, emphasizing the importance of active community participation in the joint construction of knowledge.

Throughout her career, she received the teaching award twice, recognizing her dedication and commitment to student education.

Dr. Landázuri Benítez remains connected to important research networks, such as the Mexican Association for Rural Studies, the Latin American Association of Rural Sociology, and the International Research Network on Festival Studies.