Michelle Martin-Baron

Michelle Martin-Baron is an Associate Professor in the Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Intersectional Justice at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. She earned her Ph.D. in Performance Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and her research lies at the intersection of feminist, queer, ethnic, and American studies, with a focus on visual culture, performance, and activism.

Her research interrogates national belonging through visual cultural production and performance. Key themes include funeral and memorial practices, the performance of memory in activism, and the representation of marginalized identities in theater and film. She teaches courses such as Introduction to Women's Studies, Chicana Feminism, Transnational Feminism and Performance, Queer Representation, and Black Feminism.

The trends in her publications reflect a deep engagement with intersectional justice, particularly through the lens of Chicana and Black feminist thought, elegiac activism, and critiques of legal and social norms surrounding marriage and death. Her work often bridges scholarly analysis with artistic and activist practices.

She is actively involved in academic communities, with affiliations including the American Society for Theater Research (ASTR), the American Studies Association (ASA), the National Women’s Studies Association (NWSA), and Performance Studies international (PSi). She has also co-edited a special issue of Feminist Teacher on performance in the feminist classroom, highlighting her commitment to innovative pedagogy.

Michelle Martin-Baron has advised numerous students and contributed to interdisciplinary curriculum development. While specific grant details are not listed, her co-edited special issue and forthcoming publications indicate ongoing scholarly leadership. Her work is grounded in collaborative and socially engaged academic practice.