In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Michigan State University (MSU) Museum, in partnership with the MSU Multicultural Center, will present Beyond Borders, a two-part series with distinguished scholar and storyteller Dr. Frederick Luis Aldama on October 2 and 3, 2025. The events invite the campus and community to explore how stories shape culture, identity, and belonging across disciplines and traditions.
On October 2 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., join us for Beyond Borders: A Conversation with Dr. Frederick Luis Aldama, a dynamic discussion on narrative practices across literature, comics, film, and oral history. On October 3, also from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., Dr. Aldama will facilitate Beyond Borders: Oral History with Dr. Frederick Luis Aldama, an interactive workshop offering practical tools for preserving personal and cultural narratives and highlighting the power of oral storytelling to build community knowledge.
Dr. Aldama is an award-winning author and editor of more than 50 books, including works on Latinx literature, popular culture, and the art of comics, graphic novels, and his most recently published From Cocinas to Lucha Libre Ringsides. He currently serves as the Jacob & Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin, where he founded the LatinX Pop Lab, a hub for the study and creation of Latinx popular media. Aldama is also recognized with prestigious honors such as induction into the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Eisner Award for Best Academic/Scholarly Work, and the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education’s Book of the Year Award.
“Stories aren’t just entertainment—they’re the blueprints of our cultural DNA, shaping how we see ourselves and our communities yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” said Dr. Aldama. “Through Beyond Borders, we’ll explore how narrative in all its forms—from comics, film, literature, and oral histories—create bridges between cultures and generations, revealing the extraordinary ways that Latinx creators are actively shaping the U.S. storytelling landscape.” Indeed, as Dr. Aldama remarks of his visit and workshop with the MSU community, “participants will discover how their personal stories contribute to a larger tapestry of cultural memory that preserves—and that proactively looks forward to the future. Every family story, every remembered recipe, every account of crossing borders—literal, linguistic, or metaphorical—becomes part of our collective knowledge.”
“Bringing Dr. Aldama to MSU is a wonderful opportunity to connect our community with one of today’s most insightful voices on narrative and culture,” said Devon Akmon, director of the MSU Museum. “The Museum serves as a forum for critical conversations about the ideas shaping our world. Beyond Borders exemplifies how we convene diverse perspectives to explore the stories that influence identity, belonging, and our shared future.”
Both events are free and open to the public. Space is limited, and early registration is encouraged. Details and registration information are available at museum.msu.edu.
This program is supported by the Diana Huizar Rivera and Pedro Rivera, DO Mexican American Culture Endowment.