José Álvarez

Dr. José Álvarez serves as Associate Professor of Spanish and program lead for the Spanish program in the School of American and Global Studies at South Dakota State University. He is a research associate of the Public Humanities Initiative (PHI) and coordinates outreach projects supporting Spanish-speaking immigrants in South Dakota with language acquisition and community integration.

His educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Hispanic literature with minor in Latin American Studies from The Pennsylvania State University (2013)
• M.A. in Hispanic literature from The Pennsylvania State University (2007)
• B.A. in Hispanic literature and language from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima (2004)

Specializing in contemporary Latin American literary and cultural studies, Dr. Álvarez examines intersections between literary, journalistic, scientific, and philosophical discourses in identity formation. Primary research areas encompass Modern Spanish American literature and inter-American literature, with secondary interests in Latin American media culture, world literature, and British gothic traditions. His current book project "Spanish American Gothic" extends this investigation into regional gothic manifestations.

Scholarly publications from 2012-2023 analyze gothic aesthetics, haunting narratives, and modernity across the Americas, featuring critical studies of Borges, Carlos Fuentes, and transnational literary traditions. Recurring themes include spectral metaphors, archival practices, and capitalism's cultural manifestations.

Dr. Álvarez actively mentors students through study abroad programs and community initiatives while serving on university committees including the Faculty Senate Executive Committee (2023-present) and Faculty Budget Committee (2017-2024). His Public Humanities Initiative work demonstrates applied scholarship addressing immigrant integration challenges in South Dakota.