Mariana Reyes Payán, Ph.D. is originally from Mexico. Her scholarship is centered in Mexican Studies and integrates 20th and 21st-century Mexican-Central American-US Border and Migration Studies , along with Latina/o/x and Latin American Literature and Culture. Her work focuses on communality and resistance in contemporary Latin American literature and cultural products. 

Professor Reyes Payán teaches a range of intermediate-to-advanced courses that examine the intersection of language, culture, and social issues, including Spanish for heritage speakers and courses on Latinx experiences and health care in the U.S.. Committed to challenging borders and fostering collaborative learning, she establishes an equitable classroom environment. Her approach intentionally integrates discussions, group projects and digital humanities, transforming students into active participants and co-creators in the learning process.