معرفی
Fernando Varela is an Assistant Professor of Spanish in the Department of Communication, Cultures, English & World Languages at Texas Lutheran University. His research focuses on ecocriticism, environmental humanities, and Latin American cultural studies, with teaching spanning Spanish language courses and specialized topics including Afro-Latin American cultures and LGBTQ+ studies. He holds a PhD in Spanish and Portuguese from Vanderbilt University, where his dissertation received the Louise A. Taylor Scholarship recognition.
Education:
- M.A., Ph.D. Spanish and Portuguese, Vanderbilt University
- B.A., Liberal Arts and Sciences (Spanish concentration), Florida Atlantic University
- A.A., Palm Beach State College
Varela's research examines intersections of environmental concerns and cultural production in Latin America, particularly through ecocritical frameworks analyzing representations of extinction, biopolitics, and human-nonhuman relationships. His methodologies incorporate literary analysis, film studies, and cultural theory to explore topics like taxidermy symbolism, vegetal life, and ecophobia in contemporary works.
His publications demonstrate consistent focus on environmental humanities across literary and cinematic texts, with frequent analysis of Brazilian and Cuban cultural production. Recent works exhibit deepening engagement with extinction narratives and biopolitical themes.
Awards and Recognitions:
- Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowship (2020-2021)
- Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship Honorable Mention (2020-2021)
- Vanderbilt Center for Second Language Studies Fellowship (2020-2021)
- Louise A. Taylor Scholarship for Humanities Dissertation (2021)
- Multiple Professional Development Grants from Texas Lutheran University (2021-2023)
Varela actively contributes to academic communities as Diversity Officer for the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment (2023-2025). His research is supported by major grants including ACLS/Mellon funding for his book project Literature, Extinction, and Fossils in the Americas.
