William Acree

William Acree is a Professor of Spanish and affiliate faculty member in the Performing Arts and American Culture Studies departments at Washington University’s College of Arts & Sciences. His research explores the cultural history of Latin America, focusing on everyday experiences, popular culture, and the interplay between ephemeral cultural activities and public life, politics, and identities.

Research Interests: Acree’s work bridges disciplines to examine how cultural practices—such as reading, performance, and storytelling—shape collective identity and societal transformation. His scholarship highlights the enduring impact of Afro-Latin American writers, the evolution of modern popular culture, and the role of performance in articulating race, migration, and class dynamics.

Scientific Awards:

• Southern Cone Studies Section 2013 Humanities Book Award (Latin American Studies Association)
• 2020 LASA Nineteenth Century Section Best Book Award
• J. William Fulbright Scholar award
• Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship
• NEH and foundation grants for transdisciplinary projects

Grants and Collaborative Work: Acree has secured funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Mellon Foundation, and Tinker Foundation. His collaborative projects include Empire’s End, Jacinto Ventura de Molina, and Building Nineteenth-Century Latin America, as well as leadership in Washington University’s Incubator for Transdisciplinary Futures and A&S CREATES programs.