Meredith Abarca

Dr. Meredith Abarca is a Professor in the Department of English at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts. She holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of California, Davis. Her work bridges Food Studies, Literature, and Cultural Studies, focusing on the intersection of food, identity, and community. Key projects include the El Paso Food Voices digital archive and podcast, which document borderland culinary heritage and LGBTQ+ food narratives.

Her research emphasizes gastrofeminist pedagogies, Chicana/o literature, and folklore. Notable publications include Rethinking Chicana/o Literature Through Food (2013), Voices in the Kitchen (2006), and recent articles on food consciousness and culinary methodologies. She has presented globally at institutions like the University of Paris-Sorbonne and the University of Technology Sydney.

Dr. Abarca has received the 2021 Outreach Award from the Texas Digital Library. She teaches courses on Chicana/o literature, folklore, and critical theory, integrating food narratives into her pedagogy. Current projects include grants exploring grandmothers’ food stories and LGBTQ+ culinary histories in El Paso.

• Education: Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, UC Davis (2000)
• Grants:
  • Voces de las Abuelas: Grandmothers’ Food Stories (2022–2024)
  • El Paso Food Voices LGBTQ+ Community Project (2022)
• Awards: 2021 Texas Digital Library Outreach Award