Rebecca Janzen

Rebecca Janzen is a Professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature at the University of South Carolina, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD from the University of Toronto (2013) and has held academic positions at institutions including Bluffton University and Brigham Young University. Her research focuses on gender, disability, and religious studies in Mexican literature and culture, with a particular emphasis on excluded populations such as Mennonites, Mormons, and marginalized groups in Mexico.

Education: PhD in Spanish and Portuguese (University of Toronto, 2013), MA (University of Toronto, 2009), BA (University of Waterloo, 2007). Professional roles include McCausland Faculty Fellow (2022–2025), Director of Graduate Studies (2021–2023), and faculty associate in Latin American Studies. She has held fellowships at institutions like the Newberry Library and Elizabethtown College.

Research Interests: Janzen’s work spans Mexican law, human rights, film analysis, and religious minorities. Key publications include Unlawful Violence (Vanderbilt, 2022), Unholy Trinity (SUNY, 2021), and Liminal Sovereignty (SUNY, 2018). Her studies often intersect with themes of state power, cultural production, and social justice.

Publications and Media: Over 30 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and edited volumes. Media appearances include podcasts like New Books in Latin American Studies and documentaries on Mormon and Mennonite communities. She has delivered guest lectures at universities worldwide, including Texas A&M and the University of Winnipeg.

Awards: McCausland Faculty Fellowship, Plett Foundation grants, Marian Library Visiting Scholar, and multiple teaching/research grants. Her work bridges academic rigor with community engagement, including refugee support and educational outreach.

Teaching and Service: Courses on Mexican culture, law and literature, and religion in film. University service includes roles as faculty senator and committee member for library initiatives. She advises numerous graduate and undergraduate students, fostering interdisciplinary scholarship in Latin American studies.