Lydia Gil Keff

Dr. Lydia Gil Keff is a Teaching Professor at the University of Denver, jointly appointed in the Department of Languages and Literatures and the Center for Judaic Studies within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Her scholarship examines the memorialization of atrocity in the Southern Cone, focusing on memory, trauma, cultural politics, and literary testimony. She is also an accomplished bilingual children's author.

Her research bridges cultural studies and education, exploring how trauma narratives shape identity in Latin American contexts. This work extends to practical applications in bilingual literacy development and cultural preservation.

Gil Keff's literary achievements include the award-winning bilingual novel Letters from Heaven/Cartas del cielo, which explores intergenerational healing through Cuban culinary traditions. She maintains an active public scholarship profile through school visits, book readings, and cultural festivals across North America.

Selected Honors:

• International Latino Book Award (2015)
• Colorado Authors' League Award (2015)
• Américas Award Commended Title (2015)

She directs community literacy initiatives including the Gulf Coast Food Project, documenting foodways as cultural heritage through oral histories and educational programming.