Esteban Devis-Amaya

Dr Esteban Devis-Amaya serves as Senior Lecturer in Spanish and Latin America Studies at Oxford Brookes University's School of Education, Humanities and Languages. He holds key leadership roles including Subject Coordinator for the BA in Applied Languages, Placement Year Coordinator, and Coordinator of the Dialogue in Migration and Refugee Studies Lecture Series. He actively contributes to the Migration and Refugees Research Network Steering Group and Flexible Learning Specialist Group.

His academic qualifications include:

• PhD from University of Southampton
• MSc from London School of Economics
• BSc from University of Southampton

Dr Devis-Amaya's research centers on migration, identity, and diaspora formation with dual regional expertise in Latin America and the Middle East. His work examines how communities construct belonging through social practices, emphasizing the intersecting roles of social class and religion. His doctoral research analyzed internal divisions within Bogota's Colombian-Lebanese community, while current projects investigate Venezuelan migration trajectories across Latin America, documenting discrimination patterns and political impacts under the Maduro regime.

Publication analysis reveals a clear scholarly evolution from Lebanese-Colombian diaspora studies (2014-2019) to contemporary Venezuelan migration research (2020-2024). Recent works focus on diaspora hierarchies ('desired' vs 'undesired' migrants), migration policy impacts, and forced displacement dynamics, reflecting urgent regional crises. Earlier publications established methodological frameworks for examining ethnicity and social stratification in transnational communities.

As an educator, he coordinates undergraduate modules including Culture Language and Society, Spanish C1(1/2), and Translation Skills, alongside postgraduate courses in Globalisation and EU Institutions. His Placement Year coordination integrates academic theory with professional experience, emphasizing identity development during international mobility. Previously serving as Employability Faculty Subgroup representative, he shaped career-focused curricula for language students.

Institutional contributions include co-founding the Migration and Refugees Research Network and directing the Dialogue in Migration Lecture Series, which connects academic research with policy debates. His Flexible Learning Specialist Group role advances innovative pedagogical approaches across the university, directly linking his migration expertise to educational strategy.