Rachel West

Rachel West is an Assistant Professor of Spanish at the University of Virginia. She holds a Ph.D. in Spanish from UVA (2024), an M.A. from the University of South Florida (2017), and a B.A. in Spanish and Psychology from USF (2015). Her research explores globalization, metaphysics, and historical memory in contemporary Hispanic literatures, with a focus on Jorge Luis Borges and 21st-century narratives.

Research interests include:

• Intersections of metaphysics and religion in Borges
• Philosophical dimensions of Latin American fiction
• Politics and aesthetics in literary discourse
• Recovery of historical memory in post-dictatorship contexts

Her scholarly contributions include peer-reviewed articles on Galician historical memory and Borges, with work forthcoming in Chasqui. Teaching spans Survey of Latin American Literature, Business Spanish, and study abroad programs in Spain.

Awards:

• Honorable Mention, AATSP Graduate Competition (2023)
• All-University Graduate Teaching Award (2020)

Service includes organizing MLA panels and serving as Del Greco Librarian. Fluent in Spanish, she bridges literary analysis with cultural studies.