Stephanie Elizondo Griest

Stephanie Elizondo Griest is a Professor of Creative Nonfiction at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, specializing in multiethnic literature, travel writing, and feminist theory. She holds an MFA from the University of Iowa and dual BAs in Journalism and Post-Soviet Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

• Education:
  • MFA in Creative Nonfiction, University of Iowa (2012)
  • BA in Journalism and Post-Soviet Studies, University of Texas at Austin (1997)

Her six books explore themes of identity, cultural hybridity, and social justice. Notable works include Art Above Everything (2025), Mexican Enough (2008), and Around the Bloc (2004). Her essays blend travel writing with feminist critique, appearing in outlets like the New York Times, Orion, and Oxford American.

Her research interests span Creative Writing, Environmental Justice, and Latina/o Literature. Recent essays address topics like Mexican folklorico dance, Iceland’s literary culture, and the politics of ‘authentic’ food.

Awarded a Margolis Award and PEN Southwest Book Award, she has held residencies at the Lannan Foundation and Helene Wurlitzer Foundation. Grants include a University Research Council Grant (2017) and a Hodder Fellowship (2005-2006).

She teaches courses on memoir writing, travel literature, and creative nonfiction. Her work often bridges personal narrative with global social issues, advocating for marginalized voices in literature and society.