Paula Moya

Paula Moya is the Danily C. and Laura Louise Bell Professor of the Humanities and Professor of English at Stanford University. She holds the Burton J. and Deedee McMurtry University Fellowship in Undergraduate Education and was a 2019-20 Fellow at the Center for the Study of Behavioral Sciences. Her research and teaching focus on twentieth-century literary studies, feminist theory, critical theory, narrative theory, American cultural studies, and Chicanx and U.S. Latinx studies. Moya has authored seminal works such as The Social Imperative (2016) and Learning From Experience (2002), and co-edited volumes like Doing Race (2010).

Education: Ph.D. (1998), M.A. (1995), and B.A. (1991) from Cornell University and the University of Houston, respectively.

Research Interests: Her work critically engages with race, close reading methodologies, and contemporary literary criticism, emphasizing decolonial perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches to race and ethnicity. She has explored authors like Helena María Viramontes and Junot Díaz, examining themes of identity, environmental consciousness, and feminist activism.

Publications Trends: Recent articles (2020–2024) highlight her exploration of digital health interventions, narrative-based feedback in public health, and decolonial critiques in literature. Earlier works (2000–2016) focus on identity politics, multicultural education, and Chicana feminism.

Awards & Honors: Recognitions include the Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching, Ford Foundation fellowship, and Outstanding Chicana/o Faculty Member award. She has held fellowships at the Clayman Institute and CCSRE.

Service & Mentorship: Moya has directed the Program of Modern Thought and Literature, the Research Institute of Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, and the Undergraduate Program of CCSRE. She advocates for pedagogical innovation and equity in higher education.