Pushpa Parekh

Pushpa Parekh, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Literature, Media and Writing Department at Spelman College. Her academic journey includes a Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, M.Phil. from Panjab University, and M.A. from the University of Madras. She specializes in Postcolonial, Immigrant, and Diaspora Literatures with a focus on African and South Asian contexts, alongside British literature, Cultural Studies, Disability Studies, and Women's Literature.

Dr. Parekh has been recognized for her contributions, including the 2011 Silver-level Delta Award from Alpha Lambda Delta and the 2009 Outstanding Honors Director Award from NAAAHP. Her professional leadership roles span editorial boards (e.g., Journal of Commonwealth and Postcolonial Studies) and advisory positions (e.g., Wagadu Journal). She directed Spelman’s Honors Program from 2001–12.

Her research explores intersections of gender, disability, and postcolonial identities through a transnational lens. Recent work includes Memory Braids and Sari Texts (2023), a poetry collection examining migration and cultural memory. Earlier publications analyze authors like Anita Desai, R.K. Narayan, and postcolonial narratives across diasporic communities.

Dr. Parekh has mentored numerous students through her teaching in courses such as “Postcolonial Theory and Women’s Literature” and “Contemporary African Literature.” Her academic networks include collaborations with institutions like Benaras Hindu University and SUNY Cortland.