She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research explores belonging and the every day lived experiences of Latina/os in the United States. Using ethnography, oral history, and archival analysis, Sujey’s research includes race/ethnic studies, social networks, gendered experiences, and ethno-religious practices. Her book, Latino Heartland: Of Borders and Belonging in the Midwest (June 2015, NYU Press), places in dialogue Mexican Hoosiers and non-Mexican (mostly White) Hoosiers of Indiana as they both come to terms with living in the same communal space. Dr. Vega’s current project historically locates the growth of Latina/o LDS members in the Phoenix area and the role the LDS Church plays in the lives of current Latino Mormons.