David Richter

David Richter is Professor of Spanish in the Department of World Languages & Cultures at Utah State University, within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. He previously taught at Grinnell College from 2007 to 2009 and has been at USU since 2009, where he also served as Distinguished Associate Professor of Honors Education from 2017 to 2020.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Spanish from Vanderbilt University (2007), an M.A. from Brigham Young University (2003), and a B.A. from the same institution (2001).

Richter specializes in 20th–21st century Spanish literature, with research interests spanning surrealism, the Generation of 1927, Federico García Lorca, contemporary Spanish women writers, graphic narrative, and the transatlantic Hispanic avant-garde. His work also explores intersections between literature and philosophy, particularly post-structuralism and Georges Bataille, as well as themes of memory, testimony, and historical fiction.

His recent publications reflect a consistent scholarly focus on poetic innovation, narrative experimentation, and the philosophical dimensions of Spanish literature. Articles examine figures such as Lorca, Borges, Bataille, and contemporary novelists like Rosa Montero and Javier Cercas, often analyzing metafiction, identity, and the boundaries of representation.

Scientific awards and recognitions include:

• Distinguished Associate Professor of Honors Education (2017–2020)

Richter has authored the monograph García Lorca at the Edge of Surrealism: The Aesthetics of Anguish (2014) and co-edited Spanish Graphic Narratives (2020). He regularly teaches courses on Spanish literature, including the Generation of 1927 and surrealism. While no formal advisees are listed, his editorial and publication activities suggest engagement in academic mentorship and collaborative research. He has published in journals such as Bulletin of Spanish Studies, Confluencia, and Studies in Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Literature.

He is affiliated with the Department of World Languages & Cultures, contributing to both undergraduate and honors education at USU.