Angela Velez

Angela Velez is a Peruvian-American author, mixed media artist, and creative writing professor based in Durham, North Carolina. She is a Teaching Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has held part-time faculty roles at the University of Pittsburgh's Department of Physics & Astronomy.

Education:

• BA in English and Hispanic Studies, Columbia University (2010)
• MFA in Fiction, University of Pittsburgh (2019)

Her research and writing focus on Contemporary American Literature, Creative Writing, and Women Writers, with a strong emphasis on Latina/Latino Literature, Depictions of the Child, and The Novel. Her debut YA novel Lulu and Milagro’s Search for Clarity (2022) explores themes of first-generation college experiences, familial expectations, and self-discovery through a Peruvian-American lens.

Scientific and Literary Awards:

• 2019 ProjectArt Artist-in-Residence
• 2019 Peter Taylor Fellowship
• 2019 Distinguished Graduate Student Teaching Award
• Leroy Irvis Foundation Honoree and Grant Winner (2016–2019)

Velez’s publications (2018–2022) reflect her interdisciplinary approach, blending urban culture, pop media, and creative storytelling. As a member of Las Musas, a Latinx women’s children’s literature collective, she advocates for marginalized voices in publishing. Her collaborative work with University of Pittsburgh researchers, such as the How to Live Like a Star project, merges astronomy with feminist pop culture analysis.

Advising and Grants: Velez has mentored hundreds of undergraduate students at the University of Pittsburgh and contributed to educational outreach programs. She received multi-year grants from the Leroy Irvis Foundation and was recognized for her graduate teaching excellence.