Mary Sobhani

Mary Sobhani is a Professor and Department Head of World Languages at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. With a background in Peninsular Spanish Literature and Comparative Literature, her expertise spans Spanish language instruction, U.S. Latino literature, and creative writing. Her multicultural upbringing in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Bolivia, alongside study abroad experiences in Spain, inform her pedagogical approach.

• Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, University of Arkansas (2014)
• M.A. in Peninsular Spanish Literature, University of Pennsylvania (1998)
• B.A. in Spanish, Arkansas State University (1996)

Dr. Sobhani founded and manages Azahares, UAFS's Spanish-language creative journal. Her research focuses on U.S. Latino literature, including critical analyses of Luis Alberto Urrea's novels and Gloria Anzaldua's nepantlism framework. She merges creative non-fiction with cultural studies, exemplified by her published work on Costa Rican coffee traditions.

Her community engagement, particularly through the Ruhi Institute and Baha'i initiatives, emphasizes intercultural dialogue and community-building efforts. While her scholarly output centers on literary criticism, she actively promotes language education through editorial leadership.