Maria Acosta Cruz

María Acosta Cruz is a Full Professor of Spanish in the Department of Language, Literature & Culture at Clark University. Born in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, she holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from SUNY Binghamton (1984), an M.A. from the same institution (1980), and a B.A. from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez (1978).

Her research examines Hispanic Caribbean culture through ecocritical and socio-political lenses, focusing on Puerto Rican national identity, gender constructions, and cultural responses to disasters. She is currently preparing the book manuscript Disaster Nation: An Ecocritical Study of Puerto Rican Culture Across Five Centuries for Rutgers University Press.

Her scholarly articles explore intersections of literature, history, and cultural identity in Caribbean contexts, with recurring themes of postcolonialism and historical narrative analysis.

Awards and Grants:

• Barbera Fellowship (2024-2025)
• Higgins School of Humanities Research Grant (2023-2024)
• Multiple Clark University development grants (2023)

She regularly presents keynote addresses (e.g., University of Puerto Rico 2023, University of Connecticut 2024) and serves as a peer reviewer for academic presses including NYU Press and Palgrave Macmillan.