Rodolfo F. Acuña, the founding father of Chicano studies in American academia, died March 23 at 93 in Los Angeles. The scholar and activist created one of the first and largest Chicano studies programs at California State University, Northridge, where he taught for decades. His 1972 book "Occupied America: A History of Chicanos" became a foundational text that remains in print and widely assigned.

Born to Mexican immigrants in East Los Angeles in 1932, Acuña earned his Ph.D. in Latin American history from USC in 1968. He joined San Fernando Valley State College (now Cal State Northridge) in 1969 as its first Mexican American studies professor. His approach of combining scholarship with political activism drew criticism from some academic peers who questioned his objectivity, but inspired generations of students. Acuña's controversial thesis argued that Mexican Americans remained subject to "internal colonialism" despite generations in the United States.

Beyond the classroom, Acuña was a fierce political advocate who supported student hunger strikes and opposed anti-immigrant ballot measures. His confrontational style led to a landmark 1995 age discrimination lawsuit against the University of California, Santa Barbara, which he won despite being denied the faculty position. Acuña used his settlement to create a foundation aiding employment discrimination victims, cementing his legacy as both scholar and activist.