Consuelo Salas

Dr. Consuelo Salas is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Rhetoric and Writing Studies at San Diego State University (SDSU), within the College of Arts and Letters. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at El Paso. Her research focuses on Border Rhetorics, Food Studies, and the intersection of cultural representation with Mexican and Mexican-American identities in U.S. food spaces. Key interests include commodification of cultural narratives, foodways rhetoric, and pedagogical approaches in writing studies.

Dr. Salas is completing a book analyzing visual imagery associated with Mexico’s cultural identity and its relationship to food and identity. Her co-edited collection Latin@s’ Presence in the Food Industry won the 2017 Gourmand World Cookbook Award. Her work appears in journals like Community Literacy Journal and edited volumes addressing visual rhetoric and food studies.

Research trends across her articles emphasize critical analysis of food marketing narratives, cultural commodification, bilingualism advocacy, and the rhetorical dimensions of everyday life. She explores how visual imagery shapes perceptions of authenticity and identity in food spaces and educational contexts. Her scholarship bridges rhetoric, cultural studies, and social justice themes.

Notable awards include the 2017 Gourmand World Cookbook Award for her edited collection. Her teaching and research emphasize asset-based pedagogy, information literacy, and fostering inclusive academic environments. Dr. Salas’ interdisciplinary work connects visual studies, food systems analysis, and rhetorical theory to broader cultural discourses.