About

About

José Daniel Rubio-Zepeda (he/him/his) is an urban planner, scholar, and higher education practitioner based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hailing from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, José immigrated to the U.S. at a young age and has since dedicated his career to championing social justice and inclusivity.

With a sharp focus on the academic and financial retention of minoritized students, José works at the intersection of higher education, migration, and community empowerment. His research explores the lived experiences of marginalized groups, delving into themes like migration, human rights, transnationalism, globalization, and the complex intersections of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexuality. José’s previous work examined the lives of Dominican and Haitian migrants on the island of Hispaniola, and he continues to center the African Diaspora in Central America and Latinx/e communities in the U.S.

José's expertise extends beyond academia—he has worked both locally and internationally in areas such as migration, citizenship, community development, coalition building, and participatory planning methodologies. At the core of his work are the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. As an activist scholar, José approaches his advocacy with a servant leadership mindset, always striving to uplift communities through collaboration and engagement.

José earned his M.S. in Community and Regional Planning and M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.A. in Political Science and Spanish with a minor in International Studies (Latin American emphasis) from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Outside of his work, José is passionate about spending quality time with family and friends. He stays active with running, dancing, and yoga, all while enjoying music, cooking, and dreaming up his next travel adventure.