Dr. Charles Truxillo is a native of New Mexico. He attended public schools in the Albuquerque and Belen. Dr. Truxillo received his graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of New Mexico, majoring in Latin American, Borderlands, and Asian History. Dr. Truxillo also attended St. Michael's Catholic seminary in California. Later, he worked as an instructor in the University College of UNM, serving as director of the University College's Social Science program from 1988 to 1990. Throughout this period Dr. Truxillo traveled extensively in Mexico, Central America, Spain, and Western Europe. Between 1992 and 1997, he was an Assistant Professor of History at New Mexico Highlands University. While at NMHI, he annually organized student tours to Mexico and sponsored student and faculty forums and symposiums. Dr. Truxillo completed two manuscripts at New Mexico Highlands, A History of Islam (1992) and Periods of World History (1995). He is awaiting the publishing of his new book, Latin America in World History.

In the fall of 1997, Truxillo was appointed to a Research Assistant Professorship with the Center for Regional Studies. He published a book, By the Sword and the Cross: An Ideological History of New Spain (avaliable at the UNM Bookstore), and an article, "Hispanic Catholicism in New Spain and New Mexico." From the summer of 1997 through the present, Truxillo has served as an adjunct faculty member in Chicana/o Studies. He has also lectured extensively to student and service groups. Throughout his career, Truxillo has exhibited intense dedication to Chicano issues and especially to mentoring students and serving community-based education. He lectures and organizes tours to Mexico and Spain. Moreover, Charles Truxillo has a lifelong committment to working in New Mexico and participating in the formation of an intelligentsia of the Chicano nation in El Norte.