José A. Laguarta Ramírez is Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Anthropology Department at John Jay and currently also teaches Latin American and Latino Studies at City College. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and trained in Anthropology, Law, and Political Science, his teaching and research experience spans across a number of disciplines in diverse academic and professional settings. Dr. Laguarta Ramírez's publications and ongoing projects focus on social movement learning, the political and moral economies of corruption, and the history, culture, and politics of Puerto Rico. Other major areas of scholarly interest include critical theories, urban studies, colonialism/coloniality, and transnational political economy/ecology, with the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean as areas of regional expertise.