Elena Machado Sáez

Elena Machado Sáez is a Professor of English at Bucknell University and holds the John P. Crozer Chair of English Literature. She specializes in contemporary American, US Latinx, and Caribbean diaspora literatures, with a particular focus on digital humanities approaches to literary analysis.

• PhD in English from SUNY Stony Brook
• Undergraduate degree in English from Fordham University

Her research interests span US Latinx literature, Caribbean diaspora studies, archival activism, and digital humanities. She examines how literature engages with questions of identity, representation, and audience relationships, particularly through digital platforms like Twitter and TikTok. Her work bridges traditional literary analysis with contemporary digital culture, exploring how social media transforms literary production and reception.

Machado Sáez's publications reveal a consistent focus on Latinx cultural production across multiple media platforms. Her research traces the evolution of Latinx representation from traditional theatre to emerging digital spaces, with particular attention to how social media platforms reshape artistic expression and community building. She demonstrates how Latinx artists navigate commercial pressures while maintaining political commitments.

• John G. Medlin, Jr. Fellowship by the National Humanities Center (2022-2023)

Professor Machado Sáez actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students in literary studies and US ethnic studies. Her recent research projects include 'Research Activism Online,' where students amplify US Latinx playwrights on Instagram, and the 'Digital Archives of Latinx-Caribbean Writing' project. She has served as advisor or committee member for numerous BA honors theses, MA theses, and PhD dissertations focusing on Latinx and Caribbean literature.

Her current work includes a National Humanities Center residency dedicated to research on archival activism and US Latinx theatre. She leads student research projects examining how digital platforms transform Latinx artistic expression and community engagement, particularly through initiatives like the Bucknell Latinx Literature Instagram project.