Patricia Felisa Barbeito

Patricia Felisa Barbeito is a Professor of American Literatures at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she serves as Dean of Liberal Arts. She holds a BA from Brandeis University, an MA, and a PhD in Comparative Literature from Harvard University.

Educational Background:

• BA, Brandeis University
• MA, Harvard University
• PhD, Comparative Literature, Harvard University

Her research focuses on African-American literature and culture from the 1940s to 1960s, particularly protest literature, and she is currently working on a book about Chester Himes titled One Jump Ahead of Disaster. Her translations of Greek fiction and poetry explore themes of cultural identity, political critique, and literary innovation.

Barbeito has translated six major Greek literary works, including Christos Chomenidis’ Niki (2023) and Amanda Michalopoulou’s God’s Wife (2019), which span genres from magical realism to postmodern experimentation. These translations have been shortlisted for prestigious awards and recognized for their contribution to global literary exchange.

Scientific Awards and Grants:

• National Endowment for the Arts Translation Fellowship (2022)
• 2013 Modern Greek Studies Association’s Constantinides Memorial Translation Prize
• Shortlisted for the 2014 Greek National Translation Award
• Shortlisted for the 2020 US National Translation Award
• Shortlisted for the 2023 EBRD Literature Prize

Her scholarly work bridges African-American literary traditions with European modernism, emphasizing cross-cultural dialogues and the politics of translation. She has also contributed to literary journals such as PEN/America, Words Without Borders, and Asymptote.