Reslie Cortés

Reslie Cortés is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication Studies at James Madison University since 2022. They hold a PhD in Communication Studies from Arizona State University (2022), an MA in Communication Studies from the University of New Mexico (2014), and a BA in Communication Studies with a Cultural Criticism Concentration from Rowan University (2012).

Dr. Cortés’ research focuses on critical intercultural communication, colonial studies, and food studies. Their work examines how Puerto Rican cuisine and sociocultural practices, particularly among women, serve as sites of resistance or colonial reproduction. Using methods like rhetorical analysis, ethnography, and arts-based research, they explore the intersections of identity, foodwork, and settler/post/neo-colonial dynamics. Current projects involve ethnographic studies of Puerto Rican women’s food procurement, preparation, and cultural preservation.

Teaching emphasizes the Cultural Communication concentration, including courses like SCOM 248 (Intercultural Communication), SCOM 347 (Communication, Diversity, and Popular Culture), and SCOM 348 (Communication and Gender). They aim to develop new courses in colonial studies and food studies. Beyond academia, Cortés nurtures hobbies such as cooking, foraging for wild edibles, and creative arts like knitting, painting, and plant care.

No scientific awards or research grants are explicitly mentioned. Their advising and professional activities focus on mentoring students in cultural communication and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue.