Kathrin Theumer

Kathrin Theumer is a Professor of Spanish at Pacific University in the College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on Cuban identity, Latin American literary modernity, and gender discourse through the lens of non-conformist writers. She teaches Spanish language instruction at all levels and courses on Latin American literature and cultures, emphasizing innovative pedagogical approaches.

• Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literatures, University of California, Santa Barbara (2010)
• M.A. in Foreign Languages and Literatures, University of Nevada, Reno (2004)
• B.A. in Modern Languages and Literatures, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (2003)

Her scholarly work examines how Cuban writers disrupt hegemonic concepts of nationhood, race, and gender. Key themes include nomadic identities, intertextuality, and trans-gendered imagination in literary works from the 20th century to contemporary analysis.

Recent research trends emphasize Cuban poetry, particularly the works of José Manuel Poveda and Julián del Casal, analyzing their contributions to postcolonial theory, modernist critique, and cultural hybridity in Latin American literature. Publications span 2013–2019, with a forthcoming article on negrismo and a manuscript in progress titled Becoming Casal: Itinerant Identities in 20th Century Cuban Poetry.

Dr. Theumer actively collaborates with students and colleagues on Spanish pedagogy, teaching courses such as Beginning Spanish I (SPA 101) and Intermediate Spanish I (SPA 201). Her work bridges academic research with community engagement in Forest Grove.