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Lillie Padilla is an Assistant Professor of Spanish Linguistics at Sam Houston State University's Department of World Languages and Cultures. Holding a Ph.D. and M.A. in Spanish Linguistics from Arizona State University alongside a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ghana, her research explores interdisciplinary connections between: Afro-Latinx representation in educational materials Discourse analysis and language ideologies Sociolinguistic studies in Equatorial Guinea Critical race theory applications in language teaching Her work focuses on Spanish subject pronoun expression patterns in multilingual contexts and curriculum development for inclusive pedagogy. Recent publications examine: Representation gaps in Spanish language textbooks Methodological challenges in Equatorial Guinea research Critical discourse analysis of Netflix's Elite series Intersectional representation of Afro-Latinx women Scientific achievements include: Finalist for American Association of Linguistics 2025 award for co-edited volume Representation, Inclusion and Social Justice in World Language Teaching Padilla's research continues to shape conversations about linguistic diversity and marginalized voices in language education through both empirical studies and theoretical frameworks.

• Afro-Latinx Representation
• Discourse Analysis
• Language Ideologies
• +4 more

Jennifer Jones is an Associate Professor of Sociology at Northwestern University in the Department of Sociology. Her research focuses on racial formation, immigration, political sociology, and Afro-Latinx communities. Jones explores how race is socially constructed through migration, multiracial identity dynamics, and intergroup solidarity. She is the author of The Browning of the New South (2019), analyzing race relations in the U.S. South post-Mexican immigration. Her work has been funded by the National Science Foundation, Russell Sage Foundation, and the Institute for Citizens and Scholars. Education: BA from Pomona College; PhD from UC Berkeley. Prior positions include faculty roles at University of Notre Dame and University of Illinois Chicago, alongside a postdoctoral fellowship at Ohio State University. Courses taught include Sociology of Immigration and Immigration and Society . Her research on immigrant-serving institutions in the South examines how racial ideologies shape institutional practices. She collaborates with scholars like Hana Brown on projects linking social movements to racial dynamics. Jones’ articles appear in top journals like American Journal of Sociology and Ethnic and Racial Studies . Her grants include NSF and Russell Sage Foundation awards. While no specific labs are named, her work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration. Professional activities include advising graduate students and mentoring junior scholars.

• Racial formation
• Racial and ethnic relations
• Immigration
• +3 more

Juan Eduardo Wolf is an Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology at the University of Oregon's School of Music and Dance. He holds a PhD in Folklore and Ethnomusicology from Indiana University (2013), alongside degrees in Chemical Engineering and Art Studio from prestigious institutions. His research focuses on music-dance traditions of Afro-descendant and Indigenous communities in Latin America and the Caribbean, exploring decolonial methodologies and cultural equity. He directs the Latin American Studies Program and coordinates the World Music Series, which hosts global music performances. His awards include grants from UO's Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies (2018) and Global Oregon (2018). Wolf teaches courses like Decolonizing Music, Music in World Cultures, and directs World Music Ensembles focusing on Andean and Puerto Rican traditions. His research examines how marginalized groups use music-dance to resist colonial legacies, with fieldwork in Chile, Puerto Rico, and Bolivia. He is a core faculty member in Folklore and Public Culture Programs and advises on Latinx Studies initiatives. Notable publications include Styling Blackness in Chile (2019), analyzing Afro-Chilean music-dance, and Un Tumbe Ch’ixi (2021), integrating Afro-descendant ideas into Andean methodologies. His work challenges colonial frameworks and advocates for socially just music science practices. He performs as a percussionist/guitarist in global ensembles and mentors students through experiential learning.

• Ethnomusicology
• Latin American Studies
• Decolonial Thought
• +7 more

Charlie Geyer serves as Assistant Professor of Hispanic Studies at Davidson College, specializing in hemispheric border studies through comparative analysis of Latin American and Latinx literatures and cultures. His educational credentials include: Ph.D. and M.A. from Vanderbilt University B.A. from Emory University Geyer's research centers on the politics and aesthetics of bordering practices across the Americas, examining how literature, performance, and visual arts engage with geographic and social borders related to race, class, gender, sexuality, and citizenship. His current book project "Disturbing Beauty: Border Crossing in Latin American and Latinx Imaginaries" identifies an aesthetic practice that challenges violent border enforcement while proposing new political arrangements for border coexistence. His scholarly publications appear in Revista de Estudios Hispánicos, CENTRO: Journal, Chasqui, The Comparatist, and Afro-Hispanic Review. Geyer teaches specialized courses including "Border Crossing in the Latinx Americas," "Queer Crossings: Latin and Latinx Americas," and "Beauty and Marginality in Contemporary Latin America," following prior appointments at University of Arizona and Ball State University.

• Border Studies
• Latin American Literary and Cultural Studies
• Latinx Literary and Cultural Studies
• +3 more

Carolyn S. F. Silva, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Elementary Education at the College of Education and Human Development, University of Nevada, Reno, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in elementary education since 2022. She brings over a decade of prior teaching experience in Brazilian schools. Her educational background includes: Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Florida (2022) M.A. in Political History, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (2016) B.A. in History, Universidade do Grande Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2010) Dr. Silva's critical scholarship examines race, ethnicity, and diversity through hemispheric, diasporic, and decolonial frameworks. Her research specifically investigates Latinx/AfroLatinx educational experiences, transnational education policies, and critical social studies pedagogy, emphasizing anti-colonial and abolitionist approaches to address racialized colonial legacies. Her recent publications in top-tier journals like Educational Researcher analyze anti-Black racism within Latinx identity constructions and Afro-Diasporic educational experiences in Latin America, advancing decolonial perspectives in teacher education and social studies curricula.

• Race and Ethnicity in Education
• Latinx Education
• AfroLatinx Education
• +5 more

Matthew Joseph Pettway is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literature at the University of South Alabama. He holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Cultural Studies (2010) and M.A. (2001) from Michigan State University, and a B.A. (1999) from Eastern Michigan University in Business Spanish and Media Production. Education: Ph.D. in Hispanic Cultural Studies, Michigan State University (2010) M.A. in Spanish and Latin American Literatures, Michigan State University (2001) B.A. in Business Spanish and Media Production, Eastern Michigan University (1999) His research focuses on African-Cuban Studies , Afro-Caribbean Spirituality in Literature , and Critical Race Studies . He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals like PALARA , Zora Neale Hurston Forum , and Afro-Hispanic Review , with recent work on Afro-Brazilian kinship and Cuban ethnographic interviews. Key publications include studies on Juan Francisco Manzano's poetry, Afro-Cuban ritual poetics, and comparative analyses of Caribbean literature. His forthcoming work explores Third-Gender Identity in Medieval Portugal and Afro-Cuban spirituality in Latinx literatures. Scientific Awards: Langston Hughes Visiting Professorship Pettway has taught at multiple institutions including College of Charleston and University of Kansas, offering courses on racial politics, African-based spirituality, and advanced Spanish literature. His teaching spans from 2007 to present, including team-taught courses on Cuban culture.

• African-Cuban Studies
• Afro-Caribbean Spirituality in Literature
• Black Cuban Colonial Narrative and Poetry
• +3 more

Carmen Lamas is an Associate Professor at the University of Virginia, jointly appointed to the Department of English and the Department of American Studies. Her work bridges Latinx literary traditions with hemispheric American and Latin American studies, focusing on 19th-century to contemporary scholarship. PhD, University of Pennsylvania M.A., Georgetown University B.S./B.A., Florida State University Lamas specializes in Latinx literary cultures, translation practices, and historiography of the Americas. Her research interrogates the intersections of race, migration, and transnational identity through 19th-century texts, digital humanities projects, and collaborative editorial work. Her recent publications highlight the enduring relevance of 19th-century Latinx literature, emphasizing translation as both a creative and political act. Themes include hemispheric transformations, Afro-Latinx representation, and archival recovery of marginalized voices. LASA 2022 Latinx Studies Book Award MLA 2023 Book Prize All-University Teaching Award, 2022 Buckner W. Clay Award, 2021 Henry Luce Project Course Development Award, 2018 As co-founder of the Latina/o Studies Association and editor of Pasados , Lamas champions interdisciplinary collaboration. She has presented widely, including plenary addresses at MACLAS and the MLA Conference, and serves on editorial boards like J19 and Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage .

• Latinx Literary Cultures
• Hemispheric American Studies
• Latin American Studies
• +4 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

Marta Caminero-Santangelo is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Kansas. Her work bridges literary criticism with social justice activism, focusing on U.S. Latinx literature, trauma narratives, and the role of storytelling in immigrant rights movements. Research: Literature’s role in social change, especially for marginalized communities Teaching: Courses on Latinx literature, social justice, and 20th-century American literature Service: Community engagement with immigrant rights organizations Her scholarship analyzes how narratives by undocumented immigrants, DREAMers, and Afro-Cubans challenge power structures and foster solidarity. She has published extensively on topics including testimonio, border-crossing trauma, and panethnic identity construction. Recent publications examine life-writing by undocumented youth, the evolution of the Sanctuary Movement, and intersections of religion with migration activism. Her work combines literary theory with empirical engagement, emphasizing the relevance of cultural analysis to real-world social struggles.

• U.S. Latinx Literature
• Literature of the Latinx Heartland
• Literature by/about Afro-Cubans
• +6 more

Dr. Jennifer A. Jones is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), affiliated with the Department of Latin American and Latino Studies within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on race and ethnicity, immigration, political sociology, and Afro-Latinx studies. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Berkeley in 2011. Her work examines the social construction of race through immigration trends, multiracial identities, and intergroup relations in the U.S. South. Dr. Jones’ notable contributions include her 2019 book *The Browning of the New South*, analyzing Mexican immigrants’ experiences in North Carolina and their implications for regional race relations. She previously held positions at the University of Notre Dame and Ohio State University, where she was a Social and Behavioral Sciences Diversity Fellow. Her research spans topics like immigrant racialization, political mobilization, and the intersections of race and class. Key themes include how marginalized groups form alliances, navigate exclusion, and reshape political landscapes. Her work has been published in journals such as *Ethnic and Racial Studies* and *Latino Studies*. Dr. Jones’ recent studies (2020–2024) explore racial solidarity, disaster migration, and multiracial identity formation. She emphasizes the transformative role of social movements in shaping racial narratives and policies, particularly in new immigrant destinations. Professional awards include her postdoctoral fellowship at Ohio State. Her research has informed debates on immigration policy, racial equity, and the evolving dynamics of U.S. racial landscapes.

• Race and Ethnicity
• Immigration Studies
• Political Sociology
• +3 more

Michael Rodríguez-Muñiz is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he co-directs the Latinx Social Science Pipeline initiative and the Anticolonial Lab. He joined Berkeley's faculty through the Latinx and Democracy cluster, focusing on critical race and Latinx studies within academic and community contexts. His educational background includes: PhD in Sociology from Brown University MA in Sociology from the University of Illinois-Chicago BA in Political Science and Mexican and Caribbean Studies from Northeastern Illinois University His research centers on race, knowledge production, and temporality within Latinx communities, with emphasis on demographic politics, anticolonial movements, and Du Boisian theory . Current projects examine Puerto Rican diasporic resistance, state repression, and the political construction of population statistics, utilizing ethnographic and qualitative methodologies to challenge dominant demographic narratives. His publication portfolio reveals consistent engagement with Latinx political representation, demographic change discourse, and racial knowledge systems. Recent works critically analyze majority-minority projections, ethnoracial diversification attitudes, and the intersection of race with political trust, demonstrating methodological rigor through community-engaged scholarship. His award-winning book Figures of the Future: Latino Civil Rights and the Politics of Demographic Change (2021) received: Otis Dudley Duncan Book Award (2023) Mary Douglas Book Prize (2022) ASA Latino/a Section Best Book Award (2022) Charles Tilly Distinguished Book Award Honorable Mention (2022) As co-director of the Anticolonial Lab and Latinx Social Science Pipeline, Rodríguez-Muñiz bridges academic research with community action through initiatives like Digitizing the Barrio—a Puerto Rican community archive in Chicago—advancing anticolonial praxis and Latinx representation in knowledge production.

• Race and Ethnicity
• Sociology of Knowledge and Culture
• Latinx Politics and Identity
• +6 more

Yafrainy Familia is a PhD Candidate and Researcher at the University of Virginia, affiliated with the Department of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. She holds a Solidarity Fellowship in the Diaspora Solidarities Lab and is an Interdisciplinary Doctoral Fellow in Caribbean Literatures, Arts, and Cultures. Her research bridges visual, literary, and spatial analysis with community-engaged practices, focusing on Caribbean art, gender, and spatial politics. Education: Ph.D. in Spanish (2025), University of Virginia M.A. in Spanish (2022), University of Virginia Graduate Certificate in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies M.A. in Creative Writing (2016), Pompeu Fabra University B.S. in Psychology (2015), Carlos Albizu University A.S. in Social Sciences (2013), Essex County College Research Interests: Familia’s work examines how Caribbean women and queer artists reimagine spatial freedom through visual art, photography, and oral histories. Her dissertation, "Sites of Freedom: Caribbean Art, Gender and the Politics of Space," deconstructs colonial cartographies and explores radical geographic imaginaries. She centers Black and brown feminist geographies, decolonial theory, and visual culture studies. Grants & Awards: Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Higher Learning Grant (2023–present) Dean’s Diversity Doctoral Fellowship (2020–present) Del Greco Annual Essay Prize (2021) B.S. in Psychology Distinguished Student Medal (2015) Teaching & Service: Familia has taught courses on Spanish language and culture at UVA since 2021. She co-chaired panels on transnational feminisms and serves on UVA’s Graduate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Her professional development includes workshops on op-ed writing and teaching pedagogy.

• 20th-21st Century Caribbean Arts & Cultures
• Afro-diasporic and Latinx Studies
• Black and Brown Feminist Geographies
• +3 more

Petra Rivera-Rideau is an Associate Professor in the American Studies and Latin American Studies departments at Wellesley College. Her research focuses on the cultural politics of race in Latin America and Latinx communities in the United States, particularly through the lens of popular music. B.A., Harvard University M.A. & Ph.D., University of California-Berkeley She has authored two books: Remixing Reggaeton: The Cultural Politics of Race in Puerto Rico (2015) and Fitness Fiesta!: Selling Latinx Culture through Zumba (2024). Her co-edited volume Afro-Latin@s in Movement (2024) examines blackness across the Americas. Her work explores themes like Latinidad, racial stereotypes, and resistance in reggaeton. Her recent publications and media contributions include analysis of Bad Bunny's cultural impact, reggaeton's role in transnational identity, and critiques of structural inequality in Latinx popular culture. She has been featured in NPR, Washington Post, Rolling Stone, and the National Recording Registry. Blanca Silvestrini Prize (2019) for the article 'If I Were You: Tego Calderón’s Diasporic Interventions'

• Race and Ethnic Studies
• Popular Culture
• Latin American Studies
• +3 more

Martha Gonzalez is an Associate Professor in the Intercollegiate Department of Chicana/o-Latina/o Studies at Scripps College, Claremont, where she also serves as the Director of the Scripps Humanities Institute. A scholar, artist, and activist, she is deeply engaged in public scholarship through music, performance, and community organizing. Her work bridges academia and grassroots movements, particularly through her leadership in the Grammy Award-winning band Quetzal and her role in fostering transnational cultural dialogues. PhD in Feminist Studies (Chicana Studies Emphasis), University of Washington, 2013 BA in Ethnomusicology, University of California, Los Angeles, 1999 Transfer, Pasadena City College, 1990-1993 Her research centers on the intersection of Chicana feminist theory , Chican@ music , transnational musical dialogues , and performance studies . She emphasizes collective songwriting and participatory music as tools for social justice and decolonial praxis. Her scholarly work is deeply informed by her lived experience as a musician and community organizer in East Los Angeles and transnational networks with Jarocho communities in Veracruz, Mexico. The 15 most recent publications reflect a consistent engagement with themes of cultural resilience, feminist epistemology, and music as testimony. They span ethnographic analysis, critical reviews, and theoretical explorations, demonstrating her interdisciplinary approach across folklore, ethnomusicology, urban studies, and feminist theory. Her work frequently highlights marginalized voices and practices, from street vendors in Boyle Heights to incarcerated women. Her scientific honors include: MacArthur Fellowship (2022) United States Artist (USA) Fellowship (2021) Grammy Award (2013) Fulbright Garcia-Robles Fellowship (2007-2008) Woodrow Wilson Career Enhancement Fellowship Multiple Scripps College research and teaching awards Gonzalez has advised and co-founded several academic and artistic collectives, including Women Who Rock and The Seattle Fandango Project . She has secured research grants from the Mellon Foundation, California Arts Council, and the 5Cs Creativity and Innovation Initiative. Her leadership extends to board roles at Smithsonian Folkways Records and the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress . Her personal musical artifacts are housed in the National Museum of American History , underscoring her cultural impact.

• Chicana Feminist Theory
• Chican@ Music
• Transnational Musical Dialogues
• +7 more

Jennifer Caroccio Maldonado is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English at Baruch College’s Weissman School of Arts and Sciences. Her work bridges Latinx literature, graphic narratives, and critical race studies. Education: Ph.D. in American Studies, Rutgers University-Newark M.A. in English, Brooklyn College, CUNY B.A. in English, Queens College, CUNY Her research explores Latinx graphic counter-histories, queer temporalities, and the intersection of labor resistance with visual storytelling. She has published on topics ranging from Mixtec pictography in comics to BIPOC mythologies in speculative art. Recent publications include work on Who is Ana Mendieta? (2025) and Puerto Rico Strong (2025). Her research also examines the role of sonic theory in punk and hip-hop comics, and she has received a CUNY Faculty Fellowship (2023) and a PSC-CUNY grant (2023). Scientific Awards: Faculty Fellowship, CUNY University Human Resources (2023) She teaches courses on Latino/a Literature, Great Works of Literature, and Writing, and is actively involved in the International Comics Art Forum and Latinx Comic Arts Festival. Her lab work focuses on visual-textual analysis of Latinx life writing.

• Latinx Literature
• Graphic Narratives
• Comics Studies
• +4 more