Natasha Tanna

Natasha Tanna is a Senior Lecturer in World Literature and Co-Director of the Modern Research School at the University of York's Department of English and Related Literature. She previously held positions as a Research Fellow at University College London and Lecturer in Spanish at Christ’s College, Cambridge. Her work focuses on queer, feminist, and decolonial approaches to literature and activism, particularly in Latin(x) America, the Caribbean, and Iberian contexts.

Education:

• PhD in Spanish, University of Cambridge
• MPhil in Latin American Studies, University of Cambridge
• BA in Modern and Medieval Languages, University of Cambridge

Research Interests: Natasha’s research explores how literature engages with feminist, queer, and decolonial theories, emphasizing migration, racialisation, and collective healing through creative processes like co-authorship and anonymity. Her work bridges academic and activist frameworks, addressing issues such as femicide, ecological destruction, and the intersection of art with social justice. She has conducted fieldwork with indigenous communities in Chiapas, Mexico, and collaborated internationally on projects like Craetion: Creative Critical Interventions for Social Justice.

Scientific Awards:

• Association of Hispanists of Great Britain and Ireland Publication Prize (2018)
• Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2020)
• Higher Education Academy Fellowship (External Activity)

Advising & Grants: Natasha has led projects funded by the Leverhulme Trust, ESRC Impact Acceleration Award, and the University of York’s Place and Community Fund. She co-edits Creaction (UCL Press, under review) and is writing her second monograph on queer appropriation in Ibero-American literature. Her teaching includes global literature modules on migration, racialisation, and contemporary theory. She actively participates in workshops, conferences, and collaborative initiatives, such as supporting the Abejas de Acteal’s testimonial work.

Labs/Teams: She co-directs the Modern Research School at York and collaborates with institutions like UNAM (Mexico City) and the Universitat de Barcelona. Her interdisciplinary projects involve partnerships with scholars across the UK, Mexico, and Spain, blending literary analysis with community-based activism.