Silvia Soto

Silvia Soto is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chicano and Latino Studies at Sonoma State University, where she also serves as Associate Chair of Native American Studies. She is actively engaged in research and teaching related to Indigenous literatures and worldviews, particularly within the Maya communities of Chiapas, Mexico.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Native American Studies, University of California, Davis
• M.A. in Latin American Studies, University of New Mexico

Her research centers on the contemporary Maya literary movement, examining identity formation, gender dynamics, and cosmovisions. She explores how Indigenous writers reconstruct cultural and spiritual worlds through literature, especially in the context of Zapatismo and resistance movements. Her work bridges literary criticism, decolonial theory, and Indigenous epistemologies.

Her publications reveal a consistent focus on Maya self-representation, worldview reconstruction, and the interplay between literature and political resistance. Key themes include pluriversality, spiritual awakening, and the decolonization of narrative forms.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards mentioned in the text.

Dr. Soto has been involved in academic teaching and research leadership, having previously served as a visiting assistant professor and postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in American Indian Studies. While specific grants and advisees are not listed, her faculty role implies ongoing mentorship and research activity. She is the author of the recently published book Caracoleando Among Worlds: Reconstructing Maya Worldviews in Chiapas (University of Arizona Press), which synthesizes her scholarly contributions.

She is affiliated with interdisciplinary programs in Indigenous and Latinx studies, contributing to curriculum development and academic leadership as associate chair.