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Dr. Michele Shaul serves as Professor of Spanish and Chair of the World Languages Department at Queens University of Charlotte, where she also directs the Center for Latino Studies. A dedicated scholar and educator, she co-founded the e-journal Label Me Latina/o and leads community-focused initiatives bridging academia and social outreach. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Spanish-American Literature from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill M.A. in Spanish from the University of Florida, Gainesville B.A. with honors in Spanish from the University of Florida, Gainesville Dr. Shaul's research interrogates Latinx identity through literary criticism, translation, and creative writing, emphasizing intersectional experiences of race, gender, and disability within U.S. institutions. Her work actively challenges monolithic narratives while centering marginalized voices in both scholarly and artistic contexts. Analysis of her recent publications (2016-2023) reveals a cohesive trajectory exploring bilingual expression, cultural memory, and systemic inequity. Edited volumes on Latinx literature in Spanish and theater demonstrate scholarly rigor, while creative works like poetry and short stories employ personal narrative to examine reincarnation, hybrid identity, and border-crossing experiences. Her contributions have earned significant recognition: Queens’ 2016 Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award for pedagogical excellence 2023 Con A de Arte Award from the Latin American Coalition for cultural leadership Through the student/faculty Latino Studies Project, Dr. Shaul mentors researchers documenting Charlotte's Latino community history while collaborating with artists on tolerance-focused initiatives. Her editorial work with international scholars demonstrates sustained commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices across academic and creative domains. Dr. Shaul co-leads the e-journal Label Me Latina/o and directs the Latino Studies Project, fostering collaborative research between students, faculty, and Charlotte's Latino community. Her social outreach partnerships integrate art installations and performance to address diversity through experiential learning and public engagement.

• Latinx Literature
• Spanish-American Literature
• Translation Studies
• +3 more

José A. de la Garza Valenzuela is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Latina/Latino Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on queer migrant narratives, critical legal studies, and Latinx literature. He holds a PhD in English from Miami University and previously served as a Chancellor’s Postdoctoral Research Associate at UIUC and Assistant Professor at Florida Atlantic University. Education: PhD in English, Miami University (with concentration in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies) MA in English, Sam Houston State University BBA in International Business and Economics, Sam Houston State University His interdisciplinary work bridges literary analysis with legal frameworks, examining how queer Chicano writers challenge state narratives of citizenship and migration. Key projects include his forthcoming monograph *Queer in a Legal Sense: Brown Citizenship and Other Lawful Fictions* and peer-reviewed articles in Latino Studies , MLA , and American Literary History . Awards & Affiliations: American Council of Learned Societies Fellow (2023) Affiliate: Unit for Criticism and Interpretive Theory, Department of Gender & Women Studies, and Department of English His teaching spans courses on Latinx literature, queer studies, and U.S. social movements. His personal background as a first-generation college graduate and former undocumented migrant deeply informs his scholarship and pedagogy.

• Latinx Literary Studies
• Chicanx Studies
• Queer Chicano Literature
• +4 more

Bruna Damiana Heinsfeld serves as Assistant Professor of Learning Technologies within the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development. Her research critically examines the intersections of technology, society, and education through the lens of Critical Studies of Education and Technology (CSET), with emphasis on power dynamics and social justice implications. Her academic credentials include: Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Learning and Teaching (Learning Design and Technologies concentration) from UTSA M.A. in Education (Digital Languages, Media and Education concentration) from PUC-Rio, Brazil Multiple Postgraduate Certificates from Brazilian institutions: Media Discourse Analysis, Ontology and Epistemology, Philosophy/Sociology/Social Sciences, and Distance Learning Management B.A. in English Language and Literature from UERJ, Brazil Dr. Heinsfeld's research program centers on critical discourse analysis of educational technology narratives across corporate, policy, and educational contexts. She investigates how technological discourses are constructed and operationalized, particularly regarding digital equity, participatory exclusion, and the sociopolitical dimensions of technology adoption. Her methodological approach combines Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) with critical pedagogy to unpack ideological, cultural, and economic factors shaping educational technology implementations. She examines epistemological foundations of technological beliefs and challenges neoliberal narratives in EdTech through rigorous deconstruction of policy documents and marketing materials. Analysis of her recent publications (2019-2023) reveals consistent focus on corporate influence in educational technology, with particular attention to Google and Microsoft's marketing narratives, pandemic-era remote learning disparities, and Latinx student experiences. Her work demonstrates how technological solutions often reinforce existing inequalities through participatory exclusion mechanisms, while her policy analyses expose contradictions between equity rhetoric and actual implementation. Recurring methodological threads include discourse analysis of educational landscape reports and critical examination of public policy frameworks. No scientific awards were documented in the provided materials. As an advisor, Dr. Heinsfeld cultivates a supportive environment grounded in social justice principles, emphasizing critical consciousness development and student autonomy. Her advising philosophy centers on accessible feedback, interdisciplinary exploration, and preparation for meaningful societal engagement. She teaches foundational courses including CI 4311W Technology and Ethics in Society (examining algorithmic bias, privacy concerns, and AI ethics) and CI 8147 Critical Discourse Analysis in Educational Research (focusing on language-power dynamics in educational contexts). While specific research laboratories aren't detailed, her collaborative work spans international contexts with Brazilian institutions and U.S. colleagues, particularly evident in joint publications with researchers like V. Marone and M. Pischetola. Her research trajectory indicates ongoing critical engagement with emerging technologies like AI in education policy, as evidenced by upcoming 2025 conference presentations.

• Critical Perspectives on Educational Technology
• Technology Discourse Analysis
• Philosophy and Sociology of Technology
• +3 more

Ayendy Bonifacio is a Dominican American scholar, writer, and poet currently serving as Assistant Professor of English at the University of Toledo's College of Arts and Letters. Born in Santiago De Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic, and raised in East New York, Brooklyn, he earned his Ph.D. from Ohio State University and has established himself as a significant voice in American literature, Latine studies, and diaspora studies. His research focuses on the intersections of memory, migration, race, and colonial legacies in the Americas, with particular attention to nineteenth-century to contemporary print culture. Bonifacio's scholarly work bridges academic and public discourse, appearing in venues ranging from American Periodicals and ASAP/Journal to The New York Times and Slate . He explores how literary forms negotiate cultural identity across borders, with special emphasis on Dominican and Latinx experiences. Bonifacio's publications reveal a consistent trajectory examining transnational literary connections, particularly between Anglophone and Hispanophone traditions. His work frequently addresses anti-Blackness within Latinx communities, diasporic identity formation, and the material history of print culture. The 2024 monograph Paratextuality in Anglophone and Hispanophone Poems in the U.S. Press, 1855–1901 represents a significant contribution to understanding how multilingual poetry circulated in nineteenth-century American periodicals. Top ten best non-fiction books of 2017 (The Latino Author for Dique Dominican ) Bonifacio's writing has received support from prestigious organizations including the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Digital Media and Composition Institute (DMAC), the Ohio Arts Council, and the Society for Nineteenth-Century Americanists. His creative work spans multiple genres, including the memoir Dique Dominican (2017), poetry collection To the River, We Are Migrants (2020), and the forthcoming novel Bless Me, Papi (2025). He maintains an active presence in public intellectual discourse through contributions to major media outlets where he addresses contemporary issues of race, immigration, and academic labor.

• American Literature
• Latine Studies
• Diaspora Studies
• +7 more

Laura E. Pérez is a Professor in the Chicanx and Latinx Studies Program and Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She serves as Chair of the Latinx Research Center and is a core faculty member in the doctoral program in Performance Studies and the Department of Women’s Studies. Ph.D. in Romance Languages & Literatures, Harvard University B.A./M.A. Joint Degree, Romance Languages & Literatures, University of Chicago Exchange Scholar, Stanford University Summer Courses, Universidad de Salamanca Her research intersects decolonial aesthetics, feminist and queer theory, and spiritualities within Chicanx/Latinx and Indigenous cultural practices. She has curated significant Latina/o performance art exhibitions and authored foundational texts in Chicana art criticism. Pérez’s recent work explores coalitions between U.S. women of color feminist thought and Latin American decolonial ethics. In 2023, she is co-curating a major retrospective of Amalia Mesa-Bains at the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive. Her 2020 publication Eros Ideologies received a National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies Book Award Honorable Mention. College Art Association’s Wyeth Foundation for American Art Publishing Grant (2020) Hellman Faculty Fellows Award Mellon Fellowships Susan B. Anthony Post Doctoral Fellowship Pérez has mentored graduate students in Ethnic Studies and taught courses spanning decolonial theory, racialization, spirituality in the arts, and U.S. women of color feminist thought.

• Chicanx and Latinx Feminist Art
• Decolonial Aesthetics
• Decolonial Spiritualities
• +5 more

Rita E. Urquijo-Ruiz is a Professor at Trinity University in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. She is the first Latina faculty member to achieve full professorship at Trinity, specializing in Chicanx/Latinx and LGBTQ+ studies. Her work bridges Mexican, Chicanx, and Latinx literatures, theater, and gender studies. Ph.D. in Literature from UC San Diego Advocate for marginalized communities through interdisciplinary teaching Founder of Global Latinx Studies major and Latinx Leadership Institute Her research focuses on borderlands culture , queer narratives , and transnational Mexican studies . She has received Trinity’s highest service award and multiple Mellon research grants. Her publications and conferences emphasize LGBTQ+ Chicanx identity , undocumented experiences , and performance as activism . She mentors under McNair Scholars and Alvarez Internship programs, while leading committees for MALCS and AJAAS conferences. Key community roles include Board of Directors at Jump-Start Performance Company and Esperanza Peace Center collaborations.

• Chicanx and Mexican Literatures and Cultures
• U.S. Latinx Cultural Studies
• Theater and Performance Studies
• +5 more

Mauricio Espinoza is an Assistant Professor in Spanish and Latin American Literature/Cultural Studies at the University of Cincinnati (2016–Present). He holds a Ph.D. (2015) and M.A. (2011) from The Ohio State University, and an M.A. (2000) from Universidad de Costa Rica in Latin American Literature. His research spans Latin American Cultural Studies, Latino/a Studies, Central American Literature, and Graphic Narrative, with a focus on migration, identity, and visual representation. Education: Ph.D. in Latin American Literatures and Cultures, The Ohio State University (2015) M.A. in Latin American Cultural Studies, The Ohio State University (2011) M.A. in Latin American Literature, Universidad de Costa Rica (2000) B.A. in Journalism, Electronic Media Production, and English, Ashland University (1998) His work analyzes intersections of neoliberalism, gender, and transnationalism in Latin American and Latino cultural production. Recent publications explore post-apocalyptic graphic narratives, indigenous gaming in Central America, and decolonial acts in visual media. His research emphasizes the role of comics and film in challenging societal norms. Grants include funding for the UC Latino Faculty Association. He serves on university committees related to Latin American, Caribbean, and Latinx Studies. Contact: espinojm@uc.edu | Office: 710C Old Chemistry Building, University of Cincinnati.

• Latin American Cultural Studies
• Latino/a Studies
• Central American Literature
• +7 more

Rick Rodriguez serves as Associate Professor of English in the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College, City University of New York (CUNY), where he teaches core literature courses including Survey of American Literature I, Great Works of Literature II, and Ethnic Literature across multiple semesters from 2013 to Spring 2025. His academic credentials include: Ph.D. in English from Loyola University Chicago M.A. in English from Florida International University B.A. in English from Florida International University Rodriguez specializes in 18th-19th century American literary studies with critical focus on sovereignty, revolutionary movements, and transnational connections between U.S., Cuban, and Caribbean contexts. His work interrogates how concepts of immunity and political authority manifest in literary texts, particularly examining racial formations and postcolonial perspectives within canonical and marginalized narratives. This research intersects with broader themes of globalization, ethnic identity, and the literary construction of revolutionary subjectivity. His publication trajectory reveals consistent engagement with sovereignty studies across American literary history, evolving from Poe's political philosophy (2012) to Hawthorne's utopian visions (2025). Key thematic threads include Cuban-U.S. literary entanglements (evident in multiple 2016-2019 works), the servant's subversive agency in postcolonial texts, and reconceptualizations of revolution through sovereignty frameworks. Professional recognition includes: Academic Leave (Fall 2020) from WSAS Office of the Dean Global Themed Freshman Learning Community Course grant with teaching release (Weissman College, 2016) Rodriguez maintains active service commitments as Department Curriculum Committee Chair, English Department Executive Committee member, and faculty organizer for events like the Student Poetry Event. His committee work spans honors admissions, Latinx literature searches, and cross-school collaborations with Zicklin Business School. While no formal research grants are documented, his 2020 academic leave indicates institutional support for scholarly development. No laboratory facilities, research teams, or collaborative scientific infrastructure are referenced in his professional profile.

• American Literature
• Postcolonial Literature
• Revolutionary Literature
• +5 more

Dr. Michael Lechuga is an Associate Professor and Interim Co-Chair of the Department of Communication at The University of New Mexico. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from the University of Denver (2016) and an M.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso (2007). His research focuses on Latina/o/x Studies, migration, settler colonialism, affect studies, and film studies. He explores how migration control structures and white nationalist ideologies impact migrant communities, with a current emphasis on technology in border security and the governance of alienhood. His book project Alien Affects examines intersections between Hollywood alien invasion films and México/U.S. border security industries. Lechuga’s scholarship bridges communication theory with decolonial frameworks, interrogating how land, borders, and citizenship are rhetorically constructed. His recent work includes critical analyses of decolonization in academia, pedagogical reconnections to land, and the role of land in social movements. He has published widely on migration rhetoric, cinematic citizenship, and the politics of affect in settler colonial contexts. He advises graduate students in the Communication Ph.D. program and contributes to the university’s research groups on communication and journalism. His teaching and research emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to communication studies, particularly in Latinx futurism and surveillance studies.

• Latina/o/x Studies
• Communication Studies
• Rhetoric
• +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

Belkys Torres serves as Associate Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence in Education and Teaching Associate Professor in Latinx and Gender Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Her work focuses on educational equity, structural barriers, and student success for marginalized groups. She is affiliated with the Institute for International Studies in Education and Center for Latin American Studies. Dr. Torres earned her doctorate from the University of Notre Dame, with a dissertation analyzing telenovelas' influence on U.S. Latina/o literature through melodrama and feminist theory. Her research spans Latinx cultural studies, ethnic media, transnationalism, and feminist theory. She actively engages in intercultural competency training and global/community learning initiatives. Her professional contributions include curriculum development, program assessment, and fostering inclusive educational policies. Though no specific awards or grants are listed, her roles reflect commitment to institutional equity and academic innovation.

• Latinx literary and cultural studies
• ethnic media studies
• cultural hybridity
• +5 more

Mónica Russel y Rodríguez is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Anthropology and the Latina and Latino Studies Program at Northwestern University's Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. She holds a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from UCLA (1995) and a bachelor's degree from Yale University. Her research focuses on cultural anthropology, Latinx Studies, feminist theory, and borderland studies, with a particular emphasis on Chicana feminist perspectives, mixed-race identities, and Latinx representation in academia and media. She has held leadership roles including Assistant Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Associate Dean for Teaching-Track Faculty, and Interim Director of the Latina and Latino Studies Program. Dr. Russel y Rodríguez has authored over 15 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, including influential works on ethnographic praxis, Chicana feminist theory, and the intersection of gender and race. Her activism centers on women's health and reproductive rights for marginalized Latinas. She has received fellowships from the Ford and Danforth Foundations and grants from the National Science Foundation. Education: PhD, UCLA (Cultural Anthropology, 1995); BA, Yale University (Anthropology) Awards: Ford Foundation Fellowship, Danforth Foundation Fellowship, NSF Grant Her current projects explore decolonial methodologies in ethnography and the role of contingent faculty in academic diversity initiatives. She advises faculty for the Woodrow Wilson Fellowship Program and mentors emerging scholars in Latinx Studies.

• Cultural Anthropology
• Latinx Studies
• Feminist Theory
• +5 more

Kendra V. Dickinson is an Assistant Professor at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, affiliated with the Latin American, Iberian, and Luso-Afro-Brazilian Literatures and Cultures (LAILAB) program. Her work bridges sociolinguistics, morphosyntactic variation, and language contact, with a focus on Spanish and Portuguese. She holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Linguistics from The Ohio State University (2022), preceded by an MA in Hispanic Linguistics (Ohio State, 2018) and an MA in Applied Linguistics (Boston University, 2016). She also earned a BA in Spanish from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2011). Her research employs diverse methodologies, including corpus analysis, sociolinguistic interviews, and quantitative/qualitative analysis, to study how social contexts influence language variation and change. Key topics include past participle variation in Spanish/Portuguese, language brokering among U.S. Latinx communities, and morphological learning in child Spanish acquisition. Recent projects explore digital language contact via memes and computational approaches to linguistic diversity. Her scholarly contributions span 11 articles since 2018, with 2025 publications focusing on cross-dialectal Portuguese analysis and computational linguistics applications. While no awards are listed, her work demonstrates expertise in multilingualism, heritage language education, and sociolinguistic theory.

• Sociolinguistics
• Morphosyntactic Variation
• Language Contact
• +4 more

Shelley Streeby is a Professor of Ethnic Studies and Literature at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), and former Director of the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop (2010–2021). Her research focuses on speculative fiction, environmental humanities, and archival methods, particularly through the lens of Octavia E. Butler’s work. She is a leading scholar in Octavia E. Butler Studies, co-organizing the 2016 'Shaping Change' conference and advising the Octavia E. Butler Seeding Futures exhibit. Her books include *Imagining the Future of Climate Change* (2018) and *Radical Sensations* (2013), exploring intersections of activism, ecology, and speculative literature. Her research has been supported by the Mellon Foundation, ACLS, and the Huntington Library. She holds grants such as the Mellon-funded 'Speculative Environmental Futures' project and co-edited *Keywords for Comics Studies* (2021), which won a 2022 Choice Award. Awards include the Arthur C. Clarke Award (2013) and the SFRA Clareson Award (2023). Streeby’s work bridges academia and public humanities, co-curating projects like Clockshop’s 'Radio Imagination' series and participating in global discussions on Butler’s legacy. She explores climate justice, Indigenous futurisms, and feminist ecologies, emphasizing archives as sites of world-making.

• Environmentalisms and Ecologies
• Speculative Fiction
• Latinx Studies
• +8 more

Maritza E. Cardenas is an Associate Professor of English and Director of the Global Studies Program at the University of Arizona. She holds affiliate appointments in Gender and Women’s Studies, Latin American Studies, the Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory (SCCT) Program, the Institute of LGBTQ Studies, and serves on the Executive Committee for the Human Rights Practice Program. Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in American Culture, University of Michigan B.A. in Comparative Literature, University of Southern California Her research centers on US Central Americans, Latinx cultural productions, and the intersections of disability, race, gender, and sexuality. She explores how marginalized identities are formed through transnational community networks and how cultural narratives challenge dominant ideologies of normalcy and belonging. Her work bridges literary analysis, cultural theory, and social justice advocacy. The body of her recent publications reflects a strong interdisciplinary focus, combining insights from Latinx studies, postcolonial theory, disability studies, and media criticism. Her work appears in leading journals and anthologies, emphasizing diasporic memory, resistance, and the politics of representation in 21st-century U.S. contexts. Scientific Awards and Honors: Woodrow Wilson Postdoctoral Fellowship CMAS-Benson Latin American Research Fellowship Elected Delegate, Latina and Latino Literature Section, Modern Language Association Dr. Cárdenas advises emerging scholars in Latinx and Central American studies and leads the Global Studies program, shaping curricula around transnational justice and human rights. She has secured competitive fellowships supporting her research on identity, dislocation, and cultural production. Her leadership extends into interdisciplinary collaboration across gender, sexuality, and Latin American studies. She contributes to several research collectives and intellectual communities, including the Institute of LGBTQ Studies and the Human Rights Practice Program, where she collaborates on projects addressing inequality, representation, and inclusion.

• US Central American Studies
• Latinx Cultural Productions
• Transnational Identities
• +7 more