معرفی
Vanessa Castañeda is an Assistant Professor of Afro-Latin American Studies at Davidson College, affiliated with the Africana Studies and Latin American Studies departments. She holds a Ph.D. from Tulane University (2021) and completed postdoctoral work at Dartmouth College (2021-2023). Her research focuses on Black feminism, Afro-Brazilian cultural identity, and African diaspora studies, with a specialization in the socio-political roles of baianas de acarajé (Black street vendors in Salvador, Brazil).
- Education: Ph.D. (Tulane), M.A. (NYU), B.A. (UNC Charlotte)
- Key Research Areas: Black feminist theory, ethnography, cultural heritage tourism, food sovereignty
Scientific Awards:
- Brazilian Studies Association (BRASA) Initiative Scholarship
- Tinker Foundation grant
- US Fulbright Program award
Her interdisciplinary teaching explores the African diaspora in Latin America, race across the Americas, and food as a medium for cultural and social justice. She is a first-generation advocate for educational equity and founded Tulane University's Undocumented Student Support Committee.
