Edna Rodriguez-Plate

Edna Rodriguez-Plate is an Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies at Hamilton College, where she has been a faculty member since 2008. Her scholarly work examines the construction and contestation of cultural identities through Hispanic and Caribbean film, literature, and media.

Educational Background:

• Ph.D. - Emory University
• M.A. - Purdue University
• B.A. - University of Puerto Rico

Research Focus: Dr. Rodriguez-Plate's research centers on fundamental questions of identity construction, from individual to collective social-national identities. She investigates how identities are culturally constructed, represented, and contested through various media forms including films, literature, and mass media. Her work particularly emphasizes the production of ideology and its impact on our understanding of the world.

Her scholarly interests span Hispanic Studies, Cinema and Media Studies, Afro-Cuban Cultural Identity, Caribbean Literature, and Cuban Film. She explores themes of nationalism, postcolonial identity, and cultural resistance through careful analysis of cinematic and literary texts.

Publications Overview: Her research output demonstrates a consistent focus on Caribbean and Latin American cultural production, with particular attention to Cuban cinema and literature. Her work examines documentary styles in Cuban film, the role of Santería in post-revolutionary cinema, and the representation of urban spaces in Caribbean literature. Her monograph on Lydia Cabrera represents a significant contribution to Afro-Cuban cultural studies.

Distinctions and Recognition:

• SAGES Program Fellowship, Case Western University (2004)
• Research and Creativity Fund Grant (2003, 2004)

Academic Leadership and Service: Dr. Rodriguez-Plate has held numerous leadership positions at Hamilton College, serving as Chair of the Hispanic Studies Department (2012-2015) and General Director of the Hamilton College Academic Year in Spain (2008-2011). She has also contributed to various college committees including the Language Task Force and Committee on Academic Policy.

Professional Affiliations: She maintains active membership in the Modern Language Association, Latin American Studies Association, and Afro-Latin/American Research Association, demonstrating her commitment to scholarly discourse in her fields of expertise.