Laura Middlebrooks

Laura Middlebrooks is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Foreign Languages at Virginia Commonwealth University, where she has taught since joining the faculty in 2008. Her office is located in Lafayette Hall, room 301, with contact email middlebrooks@vcu.edu and phone (804) 827-2938.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Romance Languages from Boston University (2005), dissertation on sexual rhetoric of translation in Puerto Rican literature
• M.A. in Latin American Studies from University of New Mexico
• M.A. in Romance Languages from University of Pennsylvania
• B.A. in Spanish and Latin American Studies from College of William & Mary

Dr. Middlebrooks' research focuses on Spanish linguistic structures, historical evolution of the Spanish language, and critical analysis of translation practices. Her doctoral work examined gendered discourse in Puerto Rican literary translation, particularly in works by Rosario Ferré and Esmeralda Santiago, bridging literary theory with sociolinguistic perspectives on identity and power dynamics.

She teaches comprehensive coursework spanning linguistic theory, historical language development, professional translation techniques, interpretation methodologies, and Spanish grammar instruction across all proficiency levels.

Dr. Middlebrooks mentors students within the Department of Foreign Languages curriculum though specific advisees aren't documented. No research grants or sponsored projects are referenced in her current professional profile.