Kaitlin E. Thomas

Kaitlin E. Thomas is an Associate Professor of Spanish in the Department of Global Humanities at Norwich University's College of Arts & Sciences. She teaches Spanish courses from beginning to advanced levels, including special topics on U.S. Latinas/os and the Border, Music and Politics in Latin America, and Contemporary Cuba. Dr. Thomas founded and advises the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honors Fraternity and was named a Faculty Fellow for the Center for Global Resilience and Security in 2020.

Her education includes a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from the University of Birmingham, an M.A. in Latin American & Spanish Language & Literature from NYU, and dual B.A. degrees in Hispanic Studies and Music from Washington College. Prior community experience includes bilingual liaison and migrant educator roles in public schools.

Dr. Thomas researches 20th/21st century Hispanic cultural studies with emphasis on borders, migration, social media, and transcultural identity. She investigates U.S. and Latina/o/e identities shaped by trans-border fusion, undocumented immigration, and policy impacts on cultural spheres, while exploring music as resistance in Latin America and Spain.

Her recent publications analyze digital media's role in undocumented immigrant visibility, using memes and comics to challenge stereotypes and create counter-narratives in immigration discourse.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Faculty Fellow, Center for Global Resilience and Security (2020)

She mentors students to pursue personally compelling research topics and collaborates on the UVM-led five-year project 'Social Media Sentiment and Forced Migration Narratives,' applying community engagement experience to academic work.