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Professor Andrew Beresford, affiliated with the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at Durham University , is a distinguished academic specializing in Medieval Spanish Hagiography , Corporeal Symbolism , and Art Engagement Studies . His interdisciplinary research bridges Religious Studies , Art History , and Digital Humanities methodologies like Eye-Tracking to analyze audience behaviors in cultural heritage contexts. Research Interests Central to his work is the exploration of female sanctity through corporeal imagery (e.g., eye-mutilation in St Lucy's legend), postcolonial interpretations of Castilian religious texts, and devotional practices in late medieval Spain. Recent publications examine the visual dynamics of museum engagement and the symbolic role of the body in Iberian religious narratives. Publications & Methodology His 2025 conference contribution on Eye-Tracking in Museums introduces quantitative audience analysis to GLAM sector studies. Earlier works like Sacred Skin (2020) and Reading Religious Subjects (2018) combine textual criticism with visual semiotics to decode saintly representations. Collaborative Networks He collaborates extensively with institutions like the Bowes Museum and Auckland Castle Trust , contributing to projects on cultural preservation and digital humanities innovation. His work with the Durham Infancy and Sleep Centre (2018) highlights interdisciplinary applications of hagiographic studies to broader social theories.

• Medieval Spanish Hagiography
• Corporeal Symbolism
• Art Engagement Studies
• +4 more

Dr. Steve Pearson is an Assistant Professor of English at the University of North Georgia’s Gainesville campus, specializing in Ethnic U.S. Literatures, World Literatures, and Religion in Literature. He holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Georgia (2008) and has taught courses ranging from World Literature sequences to Ethnic U.S. studies, including Asian-American and Latina/o literatures. His research explores intersections between religion and narrative forms, with a focus on comedy, devotional traditions, and pedagogy. Education: Ph.D., Comparative Literature, University of Georgia (2008) M.A., Eastern Classics, St. John’s College, Santa Fe (2002) M.A., Comparative Literature, University of Georgia (2001) B.A., Liberal Arts, St. John’s College, Santa Fe (1996) His research interests include religion’s influence on literary forms, minority U.S. narratives, and the pedagogical challenges of teaching global literature. He has published works on topics like Korean Shamanism in immigrant literature, diasporic monasticism, and Chinese mythology in American texts. Dr. Pearson is active in professional organizations such as MELUS (Multi-Ethnic Literature of the U.S.) and emphasizes inclusive teaching practices. Though widely traveled in academia—from theater to theology to comparative literature—he remains puzzled by social media’s role in scholarly communication, as humorously noted in his biography.

• Ethnic U.S. Literatures
• World Literatures
• Religion in Literature
• +4 more

Dr. Mary Farrelly is an Assistant Professor in Spanish Studies at the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, University College Dublin, within the College of Arts & Humanities. She joined UCD in 2017 as a Teaching Fellow and was promoted to Assistant Professor in 2018. Previously, she taught at the University of Chester and the University of Manchester, where she completed her PhD on convent and prison spaces in Spanish film and television. BA (Mod) – Trinity College Dublin MA – University College London PhD – University of Manchester Professional Diploma in University Teaching and Learning – University College Dublin Her research focuses on gender, mysticism, and spirituality in contemporary Spanish cultural production, especially in film and theatre. She explores historical memory related to the Spanish Civil War, Francoist dictatorship, and democratic transition, with particular attention to religious women, hagiography, and the cinematic representation of martyrdom. Her work bridges cultural studies, feminist theory, and religious studies. Her recent publications analyze mystical visions in Spanish cinema, the portrayal of nuns as maternal figures, and the interplay between traditional Catholic imagery and modern human rights discourse. She has contributed to discussions on inclusive higher education, emphasizing the importance of democratizing equity work and preventing it from becoming a 'minority tax.' Mothers Superior: Nuns as Maternal Figures in Spanish Popular Culture (1923–1936) – Royal Irish Academy Charlemont Grant Living Multilingually: Online Tools for Empowering Language Learners in Transition – National Forum Learning Enhancement Project From Convent to Cabaret: The Spectacle of Feminine Spirituality on the Spanish Stage and Screen – AHGBI/WiSPS Dorothy Sherman Severin Early Career Fellowship She has received the College Teaching & Learning Award at UCD and is actively involved in outreach, widening participation, and equality initiatives. She chairs the SLCL Outreach Committee and serves on the College of Arts and Humanities EDI Committee and UCD Widening Participation Committee. She also contributes to peer review for journals such as Bulletin of Hispanic Studies and Bulletin of Spanish Studies .

• Spanish Cultural Studies
• Gender and Feminist Theory
• Mysticism and Spirituality in Film
• +7 more

Marie-Lucie Copete is an Associate Professor at the Université de Rouen Normandie, affiliated with the UFR Lettres et Sciences Humaines. She holds a HDR in History from the Université de Caen Normandie (2023) and a PhD in History and Civilization from the European University Institute of Florence (1995). She is a member of the ERIAC research team (Équipe de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Arts et Cultures), focusing on interdisciplinary studies in arts and cultures. Her research interests span Modern Spanish History (16th-18th centuries), the social history of religious practices and evangelization missions, Jesuit political culture (particularly Juan de Mariana), and the social and religious history of microcredit. She has organized numerous conferences, including 'L’Église des laïcs' (2016) and co-edited volumes such as Les Comunidades de Castille (2023-2024). She also leads the 'Le Temps de l’Empire ibérique' seminar with international collaborators. Her teaching covers Modern Spanish History, pre-Hispanic civilizations, and historical chronicles. She co-directs the hybrid preparation program for the Agrégation d’espagnol and oversees ERASMUS exchanges with Spanish universities. She has supervised doctoral and master’s theses, including Claire Bouvier’s work on Pedro de Ribadeneyra (2018). Her publications include analyses of prison systems, religious confraternities, and Jesuit missionary strategies, reflecting her focus on social structures, religious institutions, and early modern political thought.

• Modern History of Spain
• Social History of Religious Practices
• Jesuit Political Culture
• +3 more

Daniela Boccassini is a Professor of Italian Studies at the University of British Columbia's Department of French, Hispanic and Italian Studies within the Faculty of Arts. Her research focuses on Medieval and Renaissance Italian and Romance literatures, with particular emphasis on Dante Alighieri, visionary writings, and the intersection of ecology, culture, and spirituality. She holds a DEA from the University of Paris-Sorbonne (1983) and PhD from the University of Milan (1987). Research interests include: Dante Alighieri's Commedia and Vita Nuova C.G. Jung's analytical psychology and the Red Book Henry Corbin's phenomenological hermeneutics Hermetic traditions and alchemical symbolism Ecophilosophy and indigenous worldviews Publications demonstrate transdisciplinary approaches connecting medieval literature with contemporary ecological consciousness and depth psychology. Recent work explores Jungian alchemical symbolism, feminine self-remembering, and Dante's initiatory journeys. She co-edits Quaderni di Studi Indo-mediterranei and leads projects on 'Archetypal Dante, Visionary Jung' and 'Sacred Weavings, Inner Journeys'. Teaching includes courses on Dante's Divine Comedy, Italian literature of the Middle Ages, and Indo-Mediterranean cultural studies. No major scientific awards are documented in the provided text.

• Medieval Literature
• Renaissance Studies
• Dante Studies
• +3 more

Beatriz de Alba-Koch is an Associate Professor in the Department of History at the University of Victoria's Faculty of Humanities. She specializes in Colonial and Early National Latin American history, Intellectual History, and Global Cultural History. She founded the Latin American Studies Program at UVic and the Latin America Research Group (2010-2022). Her research examines cultural exchanges between Europe and the Americas, with publications analyzing Baroque literature, indigenous narratives, and Enlightenment influences in New Spain. Her work explores methods of cultural retention and transformation during colonization. De Alba-Koch has supervised numerous graduate students, focusing on colonial literature, indigenous spirituality, and cultural identity. Her publications frequently engage with themes of transculturation, religious expression, and indigenous agency in historical narratives. Awards and recognition include editorial roles for Cincinnati Romance Review and Literatura Mexicana, along with coordination of the SSHRCC-funded MCRI project 'The Hispanic Baroque'.

• Colonial and Early National Latin American history
• Intellectual History
• Global Cultural History

Juan Udaondo Alegre is an Assistant Professor of Spanish and Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies at the Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, Pennsylvania State University. His research bridges medieval and early modern Iberian literature, philosophy, and science, with a focus on Mediterranean intellectual traditions. He holds a PhD in Romance Languages and Literatures from the University of Michigan, an MA in Classical Studies from the University of Michigan, and a PhD in Education and Literature from the University of La Coruña (Spain). His first monograph, The Spanish Hermes and Wisdom Traditions in Medieval Iberia: Alfonso X’s General Estoria (2024), examines Hermetic knowledge in Castile and Alfonso X’s role in shaping a distinct Spanish intellectual identity. Ongoing projects include a study on Renaissance-Baroque Spain’s reception of Hermeticism and work on digital humanities cataloging 17th-18th century Spanish plays with the ISTAE group. He teaches courses on medieval and Golden Age literature, theater history, and Mediterranean cultural exchanges. Research interests include Spanish Golden Age theater (e.g., Calderón, Lope de Vega), interreligious dialogue in medieval texts, and the material history of early modern plays. His articles explore topics like magic in Alfonso X’s writings, Baroque martyrdom depictions, and Lepanto’s portrayal in drama. He has contributed to journals such as La Coronica , Hispanic Journal , and Journal of Medieval Iberian Studies . Teaching spans undergraduate and graduate levels, emphasizing critical engagement with historical texts and improving language skills through theater-based methods. He previously taught at the University of La Coruña and the University of Michigan.

• Spanish Golden Age Literature
• Early Modern Literature and Culture
• Medieval Literature and Culture
• +5 more

Noël Valis is the Kingman Brewster, Jr. Professor of Spanish & Portuguese at Yale University, where she teaches in the Department of Spanish & Portuguese within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College (1975) and is a leading scholar in modern Spanish literature and cultural studies. Her research centers on modern Spanish literature, the Spanish Civil War, religion and narrative, gender and cultural identity, and the phenomenon of cursilería (kitsch and bad taste). She has made significant contributions to the study of Federico García Lorca and Hispanic women writers, bridging literary analysis with cultural and religious history. Valis's recent publications reflect sustained engagement with Spanish cultural memory, sacred realism, and literary legacy. Her works span critical scholarship, creative fiction, and translation, demonstrating interdisciplinary depth and narrative innovation. Themes of longing, spirituality, and aesthetic judgment recur across her oeuvre. Scientific Awards and Honors: Victoria Urbano Academic Achievement Prize Fulbright Fellowship Guggenheim Fellowship NEH Fellowship Katherine Singer Kovacs Prize (2003) Best Book Translation Prize (2008) PROSE Award for Literature (2023) Valis has served in leadership roles, including President of the International Association of Galdós Scholars (2021–2023), and is a Corresponding Member of the Royal Spanish Academy. Her advisory and grant activities include service on the NEH’s National Council on the Humanities, reflecting her influence in shaping humanities scholarship nationally and internationally. She has also contributed to pedagogical development, particularly in teaching contested historical narratives such as the Spanish Civil War, and continues to mentor emerging scholars in Hispanic literary and cultural studies.

• Modern Spanish Literature
• Spanish Civil War
• Religion and Literature
• +7 more

David Slade is a Professor of Spanish and Provost at Berry College, where he leads academic affairs and oversees the World Languages department. He holds a B.A. from Berry College (1997), an M.A. from the University of Kentucky (2001), and a Ph.D. in Colonial Latin American Studies (with a focus on the 18th century) from Emory University (2005). His research explores the intellectual, archival, and administrative dimensions of the Bourbon reforms in Hispanic territories, emphasizing how colonial knowledge systems shaped transatlantic power dynamics. Slade's work centers on 18th-century archives, libraries, and institutions as sites of imperial knowledge production. He critically examines textual works like Peralta Barnuevo’s poetry and analyzes how Enlightenment ideals intersected with colonial governance. His publications highlight the architectural and bureaucratic frameworks underpinning Spanish colonial administration, particularly through studies of the Archivo General de Indias and other key institutions. Although no specific awards or advising roles are highlighted in the provided text, his role as Provost indicates leadership in academic governance. His website (https://sites.berry.edu/dslade/) likely contains further details about his teaching, mentorship, and institutional contributions. Slade’s interdisciplinary focus bridges history, literature, and archival science, reflecting a commitment to understanding the cultural and intellectual foundations of colonial Latin America.

• Colonial Latin America
• 18th-Century History
• Hispanic Studies
• +3 more

Dr. Anika Lenke Kovács is a Senior Lecturer with a PhD in the Department of Catalan Philology and General Linguistics at the University of the Balearic Islands, where she also served as Vice-Dean and Head of Studies of the Degree in Catalan Language and Literature (2020/2021). Her academic career spans multiple prestigious institutions including Universitat Rovira i Virgili (2001-2017), Universität Bremen, Germany (2012-2017), and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (2008-2013). Her educational background includes: Bachelor in Catalan Philology (1998) Post-graduate in German Studies (2004, with special award) Master in Foreign Language Teaching (2010) PhD in Catalan Philology (2013, with special doctoral award) Dr. Kovács specializes in Medieval Catalan Drama, with particular expertise in the Majorcan Llabrés Manuscript (Ms. 1139) housed in the Catalan National Library. Her research examines typological interpretation, special effects, female characters, and spiritual dimensions of medieval Catalan plays. She has made significant contributions to understanding the Dance of Death tradition, Memento Mori themes, and religious processions in medieval Iberia. Her interdisciplinary approach combines literary analysis with performance studies, religious history, and cultural anthropology to provide comprehensive insights into medieval theatrical practices. Her recent publications demonstrate sustained scholarly productivity, with a consistent focus on the Majorcan play texts. She analyzes how medieval playwrights depicted angels, represented mortality concepts, and conveyed spiritual dimensions through theatrical performance. Her work often bridges textual analysis with practical considerations of medieval staging, examining how these plays would have been experienced by contemporary audiences through processions, music, and visual elements. Her scientific recognition includes: Special award for Post-graduate in German Studies (2004) Special doctoral award for PhD in Catalan Philology (2013) Dr. Kovács has supervised numerous graduate students and has participated in multiple research projects including 'Theatres of Persuasion in the Long Sixteenth Century' (2017-2020), 'Estudis interdisciplinaris sobre la dansa a l'edat mitjana i moderna' (2014-2015), 'Choreutic Heterotopias' (2018-2020), and 'Monastic Landscapes' (2019-2022). She currently serves as president of the Société Internationale pour l'étude du Théâtre Médiéval (2019-2022) and is part of the Benedictine Oblates of Montserrat since December 2022. She is an active member of the research team FILOHUMSIDOR (Filología y Humanismo en el Siglo de Oro) at the Institut d'Estudis Hispànics en la Modernitat and the Centre de Recerca en Arts Escèniques (UAB). Her work with the research groups 'Literatura, Art i Representació a la llarga edat mitjana' and 'Iconodansa' continues to advance understanding of medieval theatrical traditions and their cultural significance.

• Medieval Drama
• Medieval Catalan Literature
• Dance of Death
• +5 more

Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert is a Professor of Hispanic Studies at Vassar College, holding the Randolph Distinguished Professor Chair. Her research focuses on Caribbean literature, cultural studies, and environmental humanities, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to Caribbean societies. She explores themes such as creole religions, climate change, and colonial ecological legacies through art, literature, and historical analysis. Her academic background includes a BA from the Universidad de Puerto Rico and MA, MPhil, and PhD from New York University. She has been affiliated with Vassar since 1991, contributing to departments including Africana Studies, Environmental Studies, Global Nineteenth-Century Studies, and Latin American and Latinx Studies. Paravisini-Gebert’s work interrogates the intersection of environment and culture, particularly through studies of deforestation, climate resilience, and spiritual practices like Vodou, Santería, and Espiritismo. Her articles analyze Caribbean art addressing environmental crises, colonial ecological exploitation, and the role of marginalized communities in shaping cultural narratives. Her recent publications highlight urgent themes including coastal degradation, biodiversity loss, and transnational climate activism. While no formal awards are listed, her extensive publication record reflects significant contributions to Caribbean studies and environmental humanities. Her research often bridges academic disciplines, offering critical perspectives on how Caribbean peoples navigate ecological and sociohistorical challenges.

• Caribbean Studies
• Cultural Studies
• Environmental Humanities
• +3 more

Larissa Brewer-García is an Associate Professor of Latin American Literature at the University of Chicago’s Department of Romance Languages and Literatures. She holds affiliations with the Center for Latin American Studies, Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, and Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture. Her research focuses on colonial Latin American studies, particularly cultural productions of the Caribbean, Andes, and African diaspora, with expertise in gender studies, race formation, and translation studies. Education: B.A. in Comparative Literature and Society from Columbia University (exact year not specified), Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from University of Pennsylvania (2013). She has held prestigious fellowships including the Princeton Society of Fellows in the Liberal Arts, the Franke Institute in the Humanities, and a three-year Ivy+ Mellon Leadership Fellowship. Current projects include a book on racial hierarchies in Andean religious portraiture and co-editing roles at Critical Inquiry . Research highlights include her prizewinning monograph Beyond Babel (2020), which analyzes blackness in colonial Peruvian texts, and her work on visual culture in slavery studies. Her writing spans articles in Art History , Colonial Latin American Review , and William and Mary Quarterly , earning multiple academic awards. Awards: Flora Tristán Prize (2021), Friedrich Katz Prize (2021), Franklin Pease Memorial Prize (2021-2022) She co-founded the Working Group on Slavery and Visual Culture with Agnes Lugo-Ortiz and Cécile Fromont, and serves on Harvard’s Afro-Latin American Research Institute’s international seminar on Afro-Latin American Art. Teaching specialties include colonial Latin American literature, slavery studies, and translation studies, reflected in courses like Empire, Slavery & Salvation and Witches, Sinners, and Saints .

• Colonial Latin American Studies
• Caribbean Cultural Production
• African Diaspora Studies
• +5 more

Luis Girón Negrón serves as the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Comparative Literature and Romance Languages and Literatures at Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences, where he has taught since 1997. He currently directs graduate studies for Spring 2025 and will chair the Committee on the Study of Religion in 2025-2026. His educational background includes: A.B. from Harvard University M.T.S. from Harvard University Ph.D. from Harvard University Professor Girón-Negrón specializes in medieval Iberian multilingual literatures and religious history , with core expertise in Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, and Latin literary traditions from the Middle Ages through the 17th century. His research examines Jewish-Christian-Muslim relations as formative forces in premodern Ibero-Romance and Arabo-Andalusian belles lettres , incorporating mysticism , translation studies , historical linguistics , and comparative philology . Recent work increasingly focuses on biblical translation projects and Sephardic literary heritage. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2010-2024) reveals dominant themes: Arragel Bible scholarship (6 articles), mystical theology (4 articles), and medieval Iberian Jewish-Christian literary exchange (5 articles), with strong interdisciplinary connections to religious studies and historical linguistics. His scientific recognition includes: ACLS Fellowship for Arragel Bible research As an academic leader, he advises Harvard's Puerto Rican Student Association (LaO) and represents Humanities at the Real Colegio Complutense's Consejo Académico. His grant portfolio centers on major collaborative projects like the Arragel Bible edition, supported by the ACLS Fellowship. He mentors students through graduate seminars on medieval literature and Golden Age Hispanic texts. Professor Girón-Negrón maintains active affiliations with Harvard's Committee on Medieval Studies, Center for Jewish Studies, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and Committee on the Study of Religion, reflecting his cross-disciplinary impact.

• Medieval Spanish Literature
• Golden Age Spanish Literature
• Comparative Literature
• +10 more