Julio Sebastián Figueroa

Julio Sebastián Figueroa is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish at Haverford College and a Faculty Member in Romance Languages at the University of New Orleans. He holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from the University of Pennsylvania (2020). His research focuses on contemporary Latin American literature and film, with particular attention to extractivism, ecocriticism, critical theory, and film/media theory. He is currently completing a book manuscript titled *Natures in Crisis: Fiction, Film, and Extractivism in Latin America*.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies, University of Pennsylvania (2020)
• M.A. Hispanic Studies, University of Pennsylvania (2017)
• M.A. Modern Letters, Universidad Iberoamericana (2011)
• M.A. Communication, Universidad Austral de Chile (2008)
• B.A. Education and Spanish, Universidad Austral de Chile (2007)

Research Interests: Figueroa's work explores the intersections of ecology, capitalism, and colonialism in Latin American cultural production. He examines how literature and film critique extractive practices (e.g., transgenic soy, monoculture plantations) and their environmental and social impacts. His analyses often engage postcolonial theory, geontology, and deep-time perspectives to address themes of memory, extinction, and resistance.

Publications: His recent articles and book chapters analyze films like Patricio Guzmán's *Nostalgia de la luz* and *El botón de nácar*, exploring their engagement with geological time and environmental collapse. He has also written on topics such as queer ecologies in the Caribbean, rural documentary film trends, and the legacy of plantation systems in neoliberal contexts.

Grants & Collaborations: While no grants are explicitly listed in the provided texts, his work frequently addresses interdisciplinary themes, suggesting potential collaborations with environmental humanities and critical theory networks. His CFPs and conference talks indicate engagement with global academic dialogues on extractivism and cultural resistance.

Labs/Teams: No specific labs or research groups are mentioned, though his research likely involves collaborations with scholars in film studies, environmental studies, and Latin American cultural history.