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Barbara Zocal Da Silva is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Maryland. She specializes in translation studies, decolonial feminisms, and Blackness in Latin America. She coordinates curricula and anti-racist initiatives for the Portuguese Minor Program, co-leads the SPAP Center for Translation and Interpreting, and serves on the ARHU Academic Planning Advisory Committee (APAC). Dr. Da Silva holds a Ph.D. in Spanish/Translation Studies from the University of São Paulo (2022), focusing on the reception of Hispanic-American women’s works in Brazil through decolonial lenses. Her research bridges translation, race, gender, and postcolonial theory. Recent projects include translating Capoeira Angola masters’ oral histories and co-editing scholarly works on women authors in translation. She actively participates in professional development initiatives like the ADVANCE Program for Women in Leadership and organizes cultural events such as UMD’s first Carnaval Celebration. Key contributions include translating bell hooks’ Talking Back , Venezuelan poetry collections, and graphic novels from Spain and Peru. Her work emphasizes humanitarian translation practices, anti-racist pedagogy, and fostering inclusive academic spaces for minoritized groups. Education: Ph.D. in Spanish/Translation Studies (University of São Paulo, 2022) Leadership Roles: PTK Symposium Committee member, Deputy Portuguese Director (Spring 2024), and APAC Representative Notable Initiatives: Carnaval Celebration organizer, anti-racist curriculum development, and project coordinator for the Portuguese Minor Program

• Translation Studies
• Decolonial Feminisms
• Blackness in Latin America
• +7 more

Vanesa Miseres is an Associate Professor of Spanish in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Notre Dame's College of Arts and Letters. Her academic home is complemented by affiliations with the Gender Studies Program, and fellowships at both the Nanovic Institute for European Studies and the Kellogg Institute for International Studies. Currently serving as Associate Editor for the Latin American Research Review (the academic journal of LASA), Professor Miseres maintains an active scholarly profile that bridges literary criticism, gender studies, and historical analysis. Professor Miseres earned her Ph.D. and M.A. from Vanderbilt University and completed her undergraduate studies at Universidad Nacional de Rosario in Argentina. Her research focuses on nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Latin American literature with specializations in travel writing, war literature, women writers, gender studies, food studies, and the intersections of women and science. Her work demonstrates particular expertise in analyzing how women navigated cultural and intellectual spaces during periods of social transformation. Her scholarly output reveals a consistent thread examining how women's writings challenged conventional gender roles and national narratives. Through her analysis of travelogues, war narratives, botanical knowledge, and domestic practices, Miseres illuminates how women created intellectual networks and shaped cultural discourse despite societal constraints. Her recent publications increasingly explore the connections between material culture, visual representation, and women's intellectual production. Professor Miseres's work has been recognized with prestigious awards including the 2018 Alfredo Roggiano Prize for Latin American Literary Criticism and an Honorable Mention for the Victoria Urbano Critical Monograph Prize. She has also received significant research support through a Mendel Fellowship from the Lilly Library, a Global Gateway Faculty Research Award from Notre Dame, and a Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researchers. Currently, Professor Miseres collaborates with Anthropology Professor Vania Smith-Oka on a project empowering Latinx women who experienced violence during pregnancy and childbirth through art and literature. This initiative, supported by Humanities Without Walls and the University of Notre Dame, has been selected by the Franco Institute for its New Research Innovation Collaboratives and has received additional support from the Notre Dame Arts Initiative.

• 19th Century Latin American Literature
• Early 20th Century Latin American Literature
• Travel Writing
• +9 more

Kathleen Ellis is a Lecturer III in the Department of English at the University of Maine, where she teaches courses including College Composition, Creative Writing, American Women’s Literature, and Business Writing. She has been affiliated with the UMaine Honors College since 2002, teaching interdisciplinary seminars like 'Civilizations' and 'Feast or Famine: Food in Literature.' Her office is located in Neville Hall, and she maintains regular appointment hours. Ellis's research spans creative writing, poetry translation (Spanish/Portuguese), 20th-21st century American poetry, and Latin American literature. Secondary interests include environmental literature, exile narratives, and representations of women in war. Her recent work focuses on the Penobscot Watershed, bilingual poetry translation, and experimental collaborations with visual artists. Her publications demonstrate consistent engagement with environmental themes, feminist reinterpretations of history/mythology, and cross-cultural dialogues. Recent works (2007-2008) show intensified focus on ecological crises and Latin American translation, while earlier collections explore American regionalism and gender archetypes. Awards & Grants: Maine Arts Commission Good-Idea Grant (2007) National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship (1985) Pablo Neruda Poetry Prize (1986) Artist residencies at Yaddo and Djerassi Foundation Multiple Maine Humanities Council grants Ellis coordinates campus-community initiatives including the 'Works in Progress' faculty series at Fogler Library and the annual POETS/SPEAK! multilingual reading at Bangor Public Library. She leads poetry workshops at the Farnsworth Art Museum and is developing manuscripts like The Wide Disturbances of Water and a novel, Mina Bravo and the Mexican Cha-Cha .

• Creative Writing
• American Women’s Literature
• Poetry Translation
• +5 more

Zachary Rockwell Ludington is an Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Maine, specializing in Modern and contemporary Spanish Peninsular literature, avant-garde poetry, transnational modernism, and translation studies. He holds a Ph.D. in Spanish from the University of Virginia, complemented by an M.A. from the same institution and a B.A. in Romance Languages and Journalism from UNC-Chapel Hill. His research focuses on avant-garde movements in Iberian poetry, particularly Spanish Ultraismo and post-war literary responses. His current book project, Avant-Garde Arcadia: Pastoral in Modern Iberian Poetry , explores pastoral themes in 20th-century Iberian works. Ludington has published widely in journals such as Bulletin of Spanish Studies and Revista de Estudios Hispánicos , analyzing poets like Agustín Fernández Mallo, Jorge Guillén, and Manuel Altolaguirre. Ludington’s translation work includes books such as Agustín Fernández Mallo’s Pixel Flesh (2020) and Fernando Operé’s Day Outwits the Clocks (2017). His translations have been reviewed in venues like Kenyon Review Online and World Literature Today . Teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses, including SPA 416: Modernism(o) + Avant-Garde and SPA 444: Theory & Techniques of Translation . His scholarship emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches to literary form, temporality, and cultural hybridity.

• Modern Spanish Peninsular Literature
• Avant-Garde Poetry
• Transnational Modernism
• +3 more

Martin A. Valle serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Chapman University's Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. He teaches Spanish language courses including Elementary Spanish I/II, Spanish for Business, Spanish for Healthcare Professionals, and Individual Study. His academic credentials include: Bachelor of Arts from Saint Mary's College of California Master of Arts from University of California, Irvine Ph.D. in Spanish from University of California, Irvine Professor Valle specializes in 19th-20th century Mexican literature with research intersecting gender studies and national identity. His scholarly focus examines cultural representations of gay subjectivity within Latin American literary traditions, particularly through the lens of nationalism and identity politics in modern narratives. His publication record includes critical analysis of queer theory in Mexican literary contexts, demonstrating consistent engagement with 20th-century narrative forms and sociopolitical themes in Hispanic literature. He received early recognition through academic honors: Dante Award: Highest scholarship record in Languages Department at Saint Mary's College of California No information regarding graduate student advising or research funding is documented in available sources. Current office operations are maintained in Becket Building 129 with Monday/Wednesday/Friday 1-3pm availability.

• Hispanic Literature
• Mexican Literature
• 19th Century Literature
• +3 more

Inela Selimovic is an Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese at Wellesley College. Her research and teaching center on 20th-21st century Latin American literature and cinema , with a focus on Argentine women filmmakers , gender politics , cultural memory , and affect theory . Education: B.A., Sewanee: The University of the South M.A. and Ph.D., University of Kentucky Research Interests explore intersections of affect and emotion in Latin American cinema , particularly works by Albertina Carri , Lucrecia Martel , and Paula Markovitch . Her studies highlight political dissent , multisensorial storytelling , and marginalized communities in Argentine contexts. Article Trends demonstrate a trajectory from 2007 to 2023 , emphasizing intermediality , gendered trauma , and post-dictatorship narratives . Collaborative projects with scholars across UK , Holland , and Latin America expand her interdisciplinary impact. Service Roles include: Chair, International Study Committee (2020-2021, 2024-2025) Casa Cervantes Faculty Advisor/Director (2019-2021) Albright Faculty Research Affiliate (2025-2026) Contributor to Fulbright Committee (2020-present) Human Rights Projects have engaged organizations like the United Nations Security Council and ICTY , influencing her interdisciplinary research on memory and marginality .

• Latin American Literature
• Latin American Cinema
• Gender Studies
• +5 more

Tracy K. Smith is a Professor of English and African and African American Studies at Harvard University, holding the Susan S. and Kenneth L. Wallach Chair at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute. She serves as the 22nd Poet Laureate of the United States and is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Currently on leave for the 2024-25 academic year, her work bridges poetry, literary criticism, and translation. Smith earned a B.A. from Harvard College (1994) and an M.F.A. from Columbia University (1997). Her research focuses on 20th and 21st century poetry, African American literary traditions, and creative writing pedagogy. Notable works include Life on Mars (Pulitzer Prize, 2012) and Wade in the Water . Her publications explore themes of identity, cosmic inquiry, and cultural memory through innovative poetic forms. Education: B.A. Harvard College (1994), M.F.A. Columbia University (1997) Affiliations: Harvard Department of English, Harvard Radcliffe Institute Awards: Pulitzer Prize (2012), U.S. Poet Laureate (2017-2019), Academy of American Poets Fellowship Smith’s creative and critical works have redefined contemporary poetry’s engagement with science, history, and spirituality. She frequently collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, including opera librettos and public literary initiatives.

• 20th Century Poetry
• 21st Century Poetry
• African American Poetry
• +3 more

Paul Firbas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literature at Stony Brook University, with affiliations in the Department of History. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University (2001), an M.A. from the University of Notre Dame (1995), and a B.A. from Universidad Católica del Perú (1992). Previously, he was an Assistant Professor at Princeton University (2001-2007) and a Visiting Professor at Columbia University (Spring 2007). Education: Ph.D., Princeton University, 2001; M.A., University of Notre Dame, 1995; B.A., Universidad Católica del Perú, 1992 His research focuses on Epic Poetry , Colonial Latin American Literature , Textual Criticism , Colonial Geopolitics , and Digital Humanities . He has extensively studied Spanish-American texts from the colonial period, particularly those discussing transatlantic South America's geography, information circulation, and moral geography. His work bridges literary analysis with historical documentation, emphasizing the role of epic poetry in shaping colonial identity. Recent publications include a 2025 digital humanities project on Magellanic route information flows, the 2023 two-volume edition of Lima's early news-sheets, and critical studies on 18th-century Lima's satire (2009), 16th-17th century Peruvian poetry (2019), and 2006 critical edition of 'Armas antárticas' . These works highlight transatlantic networks, geopolitical shifts, and literary responses to colonial crises. He has co-edited multiple volumes, including 'La biblioteca del Inca Garcilaso' (2016) and 'La forma inicial' (2015), a conversation book with Ricardo Piglia. His research also intersects with documentary film studies, as seen in 'Conversaciones en Princeton' (1998), co-edited with Pedro Meira Monteiro.

• Epic Poetry
• Colonial Latin American Literature
• Textual Criticism
• +5 more

Cheri Robinson is a Lecturer in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures at Binghamton University. Her research spans transnational and interdisciplinary approaches to cultural studies, film, and literature in 20th and 21st-century Latin America, with additional focus on borderlands theory, child/adolescent protagonists in trauma narratives, and intersections between Holocaust memory and Latin American contexts. PhD in Hispanic Languages and Literatures (UCLA) MA in Spanish Literature (UCLA) Honors BA in French and International Studies (Oregon State University) Her publications explore themes of memory, political resistance, and trauma through cinematic and literary analysis, particularly in Argentine and Caribbean contexts. Recent articles examine documentary filmmaking, urban violence, and pedagogical uses of media. Civil Dialogue Teaching Fellow (2024-2025, inaugural cohort), Center for Civic Engagement She teaches courses on Spanish language, Latin American culture, and interdisciplinary topics at Binghamton University.

• Cultural Studies
• Film and Literature
• 20th and 21st-century Latin America
• +3 more

Arcadio Díaz-Quiñones is an Emeritus Professor at Princeton University, holding the Emory L. Ford Chair of Spanish. He previously taught at Universidad de Puerto Rico (1970–1982) and served as Director of the Program in Latin American Studies at Princeton. His research focuses on Spanish-American literature, with an emphasis on 19th and 20th-century intellectual and cultural history, including studies of Caribbean poets and intellectuals like Martí, Palés Matos, and Cintio Vitier. Education: B.A. & M.A., Universidad de Puerto Rico; Ph.D., Universidad Central de Madrid His work explores themes of memory, identity, and colonial legacies through analyses of poetry, essays, and fiction. Notable publications include La memoria integradora (1987), La memoria rota (1993), and Sobre los principios (2006). He has also edited seminal works by figures like Tomás Blanco and Luis Rafael Sánchez. His articles and essays address topics such as racial prejudice in Puerto Rican society, the role of intellectuals in Caribbean societies, and the interplay between literature and historical memory. His 2019 work Once tesis sobre un crimen de 1899 examines historical crimes through a literary lens. Teaching roles include visiting positions at institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and Swarthmore College. His scholarship bridges literary analysis with sociopolitical critique, emphasizing the Caribbean's cultural complexity and intellectual traditions.

• Spanish-American Literature
• 19th and 20th Century Intellectual History
• Caribbean Cultural Studies
• +3 more

Lena Retamoso Urbano is a poet and scholar currently serving as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish at Bennington College since Fall 2021. She earned her PhD in Latin American, Iberian, and Latino Cultures from The Graduate Center of CUNY . Research Focus : 20th/21st century Latin American and Spanish poetry, transnational surrealism, queer theory, avant-garde movements, and transatlantic cultural connections Creative Output : Three poetry collections ( Light of Debris , Miracles of Absence , Blank is the Dream of the Night ) Her academic work explores intertextuality and the poetics of Eros, with publications on Garcilaso de la Vega, Blanca Varela, César Moro, and Luis Cernuda. Her article Sacralizing the Ephemeral (under contract with Vernon Press) examines the dialectic between lovers and the beloved in Cernuda and Moro. She received the NeMLA Creative Writing Award (2022) for her poem and the body rises . Key trends in her scholarship include: cross-Atlantic surrealist dialogues, phenomenological approaches to poetic spatiality, and intersections between literature, film, and music. Her teaching spans Hispanic literature, culture, and creative writing at the college level.

• Contemporary Latin American Literature
• 20th and 21st Century Latin American Poetry
• Spanish Literature
• +12 more

Elena Martinez is Professor of Spanish and Latin American Literature in the Department of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature at Baruch College, City University of New York, with additional affiliation to the Department of Black and Latinx Studies. She has served on the faculty of the Latin American, Iberian and Latino Studies program at the CUNY Graduate Center since 2005. Her educational background includes a Ph.D. and M.A. in Spanish from New York University and a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Puerto Rico. Martinez served as Department Chair of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature from 2001 to 2015 and has directed the Paul André Feit Lectures on Latin American and Caribbean Cultures since 2008. Specializes in Latin American and Caribbean literatures with focus on women's and LGBTQ+ literature Expertise in diaspora studies, Afro-Caribbean literature, and gender representation Editorial board member of Chasqui: Revista de Literatura Latinoamericana since 1996 Author of three books including the influential Lesbian Voices from Latin America (1996, reprinted 2016) Her 15 most recent publications demonstrate consistent scholarly output across Latin American literary studies, with particular emphasis on Puerto Rican women writers, Cuban diaspora poetry, and erotic narratives. The works span journals such as Confluencia , Chasqui , and Revista Iberoamericana , reflecting her prominence in Hispanic literary criticism. Magna Cum Laude, University of Puerto Rico (1978) Antonio S. Pedreira Award (1978) Multiple PSC-CUNY research grants totaling over $13,000 Extensive editorial contributions to major literary journals Professor Martinez has directed over 20 PhD dissertations at the CUNY Graduate Center while serving on numerous tenure review committees at institutions including Northwestern University, NYU, and University of Pittsburgh. Her research has been supported by four PSC-CUNY grants focusing on Caribbean women writers, Cuban cinema, and Puerto Rican masculinities. She has organized significant academic events including the Paul André Feit Lecture series and co-organized conferences on Latin American women writers at the Americas Society and New School for Social Research.

• Latin American Literature
• Caribbean Literature
• Hispanic Caribbean Literature
• +5 more

Andrea Fanta serves as an Assistant Professor of Spanish in the Department of Modern Languages at Florida International University (FIU), specializing in Contemporary Latin American literature and culture with a distinct focus on Colombian cultural production from the late 20th century to the present. Education: Ph.D. from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (2008) M.A. from Louisiana State University (2002) B.S. from Louisiana State University (1998) B.A. from Universidad de los Andes, Colombia (1996) Her research centers on violence, memory, and abandonment in Colombian literary and visual narratives, examining works by authors like Santiago Gamboa and Héctor Abad Faciolince through interdisciplinary lenses of cultural studies and critical theory. She investigates how spatial dynamics, temporal representations, and socio-political trauma manifest in contemporary Hispanic fiction. Analysis of Fanta's publications from 2001-2018 reveals an evolution from regional Antioquian literary studies to expansive analyses of Colombia's cultural responses to conflict. Her work consistently bridges literary criticism with post-conflict cultural theory, highlighting narrative strategies for processing violence across visual and textual media in the Hispanic world. Scientific Awards No scientific awards are documented in available sources. Advising and Grants Information on academic advising activities and research grant funding is not provided in the current documentation.

• Contemporary Latin American Literature
• Colombian Cultural Production
• Violence in Literature
• +2 more

Professor Pablo Brescia is a faculty member in the Department of World Languages at the University of South Florida. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Spanish from the University of California, Santa Barbara (cum laude), and a Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literatures from UCSB (2000). His expertise spans Latin American literature, film, and cultural studies, with a focus on authors like Borges, Cortázar, and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. He has authored books such as Borges. Cinco especulaciones (2015) and edited volumes like Cortázar sampleado (2014). His creative works include short story collections under his own name and hybrid texts under the pseudonym Harry Bimer. His research interests include narrative theory, microfiction, and the intersection of sports and culture. He has received the 2013 Status of Latinos' USF Faculty Award and the 2010 Jamie Bishop Memorial Award for his contributions to fantastic literature studies. Brescia also writes a cultural column El alma por el pie for sub-urbano (Miami) and has published widely on topics ranging from Maradona's cultural legacy to the aesthetics of minimalism in literature. His recent scholarship explores themes such as technological ethics in film ( Sleep Dealer analysis), Kafkaesque elements in Juan José Arreola's work, and the reception history of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. He maintains an active publishing record with over 100 academic articles and creative works since the early 2000s.

• Latin American Literature
• Hispanic Studies
• Literary Theory
• +5 more

Robert Royal is a Visiting Professor and Emeritus St. John Henry Newman Chair in Catholic Studies at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts. He holds a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Brown University and the Catholic University of America. Royal has taught at Brown University, Rhode Island College, and the Catholic University of America. He is the founder and president of the Faith & Reason Institute in Washington, D.C., and Editor-in-Chief of The Catholic Thing. His research focuses on ethics, culture, religion, and politics, with notable works including A Deeper Vision and The Catholic Martyrs of the Twentieth Century . He has received fellowships from the Renaissance Society of America and the Fulbright Program. Royal is also a prolific translator of French, Spanish, and Italian texts, including works by Yves Simon and Roberto Papini. His academic contributions span scholarly books, articles in journals like First Things and Communio , and frequent media appearances discussing religion and public life. Royal’s work bridges intellectual history, religious thought, and contemporary cultural issues, emphasizing the enduring relevance of Catholic intellectual traditions. Education: B.A. and M.A., Brown University Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, Catholic University of America Key Roles: Founder and President, Faith & Reason Institute Editor-in-Chief, The Catholic Thing Former Editor-in-Chief, Prospect Magazine Notable Awards: Renaissance Society of America Fellowship (1977) Fulbright Scholar (1978) Research Interests: Catholic intellectual tradition Ethics and culture Political history and theology Cultural intertextuality His articles and books reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship, engaging with topics ranging from medieval philosophy to modern ethical dilemmas. Royal’s lectures and writings emphasize the role of religion in shaping societal values and addressing contemporary challenges.

• Catholic Studies
• Ethics
• Political History
• +5 more