Cherilyn Elston

Dr. Cherilyn Elston is an Associate Professor in the Department of Languages and Cultures at the University of Reading. Her research focuses on memory activism, transitional justice, and cultural production among Colombian refugees, migrants, and exiles. She has conducted participatory research projects supported by AHRC and Research England, collaborating with Colombian diaspora communities in London. Current work examines how exiles challenge invisibility in Colombia’s conflict narratives. She previously contributed to the UK and Ireland Hub supporting Colombia’s Truth Commission.

Her academic interests span feminist studies, post-conflict literature, and oral history methodologies. She has published widely on Colombian literature and conflict narratives, with notable works analyzing memory politics, ex-combatant testimonies, and poetic resistance.

Research grants include National Science Foundation funding for environmental contaminant studies (though this appears unrelated to her primary research focus). Professional responsibilities include supervising postgraduate students and serving on interdisciplinary networks like the Reading Latin America and Caribbean Network.

Her publications consistently address intersections of conflict, memory, and cultural expression, emphasizing marginalized voices in post-conflict societies. Recent work explores hauntology in Colombian literature and the role of art in truth-seeking processes.