Sara Poot-Herrera

Sara Poot-Herrera is a distinguished Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, affiliated with the Department of Spanish and Portuguese within the College of Letters and Science. Her research focuses on Mexican Literature, Spanish-American Literature, and the works of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, alongside studies on women writers, colonial theater, and contemporary narratives. She holds a Ph.D. from El Colegio de México and was awarded a Doctor Honoris Causa by the Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán.

Her notable awards include the 'Woman of the Year' (1997) from the Mexican-American Opportunity Foundation, the Literary Medal 'Antonio Mediz Bolio' (2000), and the State Parliament Medal 'Héctor Victoria Aguilar' (2008). She has contributed to over 100 publications, including books like Un giro en espiral and Los guardaditos de Sor Juana, and co-edited volumes such as Y diversa de mí mísma entre vuestras plumas ando.

Her research spans Sor Juana's literary legacy, colonial Mexican theater, and the analysis of 17th- and 18th-century texts. She co-founded the UC-Mexicanistas Association, an interdisciplinary program dedicated to Mexican Studies. Her recent work includes investigations into Sor Juana's engagement with 19th-century periodicals and interdisciplinary projects like the 'Fastos, simulacros y saberes en la América Virreinal' study.

Professor Poot-Herrera has served on academic juries, including the 2001 Juan Rulfo Latin-American and Caribbean Prize, and has engaged with contemporary authors like Elena Poniatowska and Sergio Pitol. Her scholarship bridges historical analysis, feminist critique, and cultural preservation, emphasizing Mexico’s literary heritage and its global resonances.