Soraya Mekerta

Dr. Soraya Mekerta is an Associate Professor of French and Francophone Studies at Spelman College, where she has taught since 1992. She has held leadership roles as former Associate Director and Director of the African Diaspora and the World Program (2007–2016), served as President of the African Literature Association (2013–2014), and contributed extensively to curriculum development, including founding the African Diaspora and the World course sequence (ADW 111 & 112).

• Education: Ph.D. and M.A. in French (Francophone Studies, Decolonization) from the University of Minnesota; Maîtrise and License in English from Université Paul Valéry, Montpellier, France.

Her research spans French and Francophone literature, trauma studies, Islamic feminism, and resistance movements, focusing on North Africa and the Middle East. She examines how literature, film, and performance articulate liberation, oppression, and cultural identity.

Recent publications and presentations, including her article Poetic Justice (forthcoming), analyze transnational perspectives on war, terrorism, and feminist ethics. She has also contributed to interdisciplinary pedagogy and presented at Oxford University and in China.

Scientific Awards:

• Vulcan Teaching Excellence Award (2009)
• Spelman College Presidential Award for Distinguished Service (2014)

Dr. Mekerta has served on numerous college committees, including the Tenure and Promotion Review, Honors Program Advisory, and Presidential Search Committee (2014–2015). She is formally trained in theater and performance, enriching her interdisciplinary scholarship.