About
Professor Laura Prieto holds the Alumni Chair in Public Humanities at Simmons University’s Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts, and Humanities. A dedicated mentor, she received the 2021 Alden Poole Faculty Mentor Award for her profound impact on students’ academic and professional trajectories. Her work emphasizes mentorship as transformative guidance beyond classroom boundaries. Prieto’s research focuses on intersections of gender, imperialism, and cultural studies, particularly exploring colonial encounters, missionary activities, and material culture’s role in identity formation. She is renowned for analyzing how dress and art reflect political and social dynamics in contexts like the Philippines, Cuba, and the U.S.
Education-wise, Prieto was the first in her immigrant family to earn a PhD, a journey that informs her commitment to supporting first-generation students. Her mentorship philosophy, shaped by her own experiences, prioritizes long-term student success and collaboration. Notable mentees include Gabrielle Womack, who praised her unwavering support during thesis completion and post-graduation research challenges.
Her scholarship bridges historical analysis with contemporary relevance, addressing topics such as anti-imperialist feminisms, transnational missionary networks, and modernist art’s socio-political dimensions. Prieto’s publications reflect her interdisciplinary approach, blending cultural history, feminist theory, and material culture studies. Beyond academia, she advocates for mentorship as a core institutional value, citing Simmons’ collaborative environment as central to her success.
