Melva Persico

Melva Persico is a Senior Lecturer of Spanish at Clemson University's Department of Languages within the College of Arts and Humanities. She holds a Ph.D. in Romance Studies (Spanish) from the University of Miami and has over 30 years of teaching experience across multiple institutions including the University of Guyana and the University of Miami. Her research focuses on Afro-Hispanic and Caribbean literature, cultural studies, and the role of social media in minority literary discourse.

Education: Ph.D. (2011, University of Miami), M.A. (Illinois State University), B.A. (University of Guyana). Professional development includes workshops on online teaching methodologies and diaspora studies. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals like Afro-Hispanic Review and College Language Association Journal, with creative works including poetry collections and short stories.

• Research Interests: Legitimation of Afro-Latin American literatures, diaspora narratives, and pedagogical innovation
• Service: Coordinator of Clemson’s Pan-African Studies initiatives, creator of the 'Our Culture to the World' YouTube series, and former president of the Guyana Association of Modern Language Teachers
• Awards: Multiple travel grants and fellowships supporting her research and teaching

Teaching spans elementary to advanced Spanish courses with specialization in intermediate language instruction and cultural studies modules. She has contributed to curriculum development for secondary and university Spanish programs in multiple countries.