Lourdes Torres, the Vincent de Paul Professor of Latin American Studies and Latino Studies, has been named a recipient of the 2021 Frank Bonilla Public Intellectual Award. Torres will receive the award on May 26 in a virtual presentation during the LASA Annual Meeting. 
This honor, bestowed by the Latina/o Studies Section of the Latin American Studies Association, recognizes Torres's leadership as an "anchor of Latinx studies in the Midwest and beyond." LSS's Bonilla Award honors the trailblazing legacy of the late Frank Bonilla, who taught at Hunter College of the City University of New York and mentored many junior faculty in Puerto Rican Studies and what would eventually become Latina/o Studies.
The organization recognized Torres' scholarship, mentorship and engagement around the Latinx LGBTQ community and women of color. Torres is the editor-in-chief of the "Journal Latino Studies" and co-editor of the "Global Latin/o Americas" series. LASA noted Torres' mentorship and support in making space for new Latinx authors is significant. She has led DePaul's Department of Latin American and Latino Studies for more than 10 years.