About
Research Interests
—Early modern literature and visual/material culture, with a focus on the transatlantic Iberian world
—Mestizaje (various forms, functions, products, and practices of sociocultural mixing)
—Rebellion and resistance in Andalucía and the Andes, particularly among minoritized indigenous communities
—The figure of the Virgin Mary in conquest, conversion, and colonization
—Hispanic classical theater (comedia), including its translation and performance
—Diasporas and diasporic cultures of Sephardic and Morisco communities, in the Mediterranean and beyond
—Romance-language texts written in Arabic and Hebrew scripts (aljamía), and their contexts and transmission
Current Employment
Lecturer | UCLA Department of Spanish and Portuguese
—Teach all levels of Spanish language, including conversation and composition, while appropriately incorporating Peninsular and Latin American literatures, histories, arts, and cultures into our communicative, hybrid curriculum
Research Assistant | Getty Research Institute
—Support visiting scholars in the development of their projects by conducting research in Special Collections, compiling bibliographies and literature reviews, assisting with editing and translation, and/or other tasks as needed
Research Associate | Dr. Roger L. Martínez-Dávila
—Conduct research and co-author reports with Dr. Martínez-Dávila (Associate Professor of History, University of Colorado-Colorado Springs) on Sephardic family lineages for clients of Carbray International Law Firm (Spain)
Education
PhD, Hispanic Languages and Literatures | University of California, Los Angeles | 2018
MA, Spanish | University of California, Los Angeles | 2012
MPW (Master of Professional Writing), Screenwriting | University of Southern California | 2008
Preliminary CA State Teaching Credential, Secondary Social Science | Cal State Northridge | 2004
BA, Urban and Environmental Policy | Occidental College | 2002
Projects
Working Groups
2017-Present, Founding Member | The Hebrew Aljamiado Research Group | Employ digital tools to locate, catalog, and analyze medieval and early modern Spanish-language texts written in Hebrew scripts, and organize symposia and workshops to share this cannon and teach these skills to others
2014-Present, Founding Member | The Comedia in Translation and Performance | Work with graduate students, regional faculty, and local theater practitioners to translate Spanish Golden Age plays into English for publication, adaptation, performance, and undergraduate and K-12 instruction
2017-2019, Co-Organizer | Indigenous Material and Visual Culture in the Americas | Connected UCLA students across disciplines with visiting scholars and local research institutions by organizing work-in-progress presentations, guest lectures, and practical workshops
2015-16, Co-Director | 2013-16, Member and Symposia Co-Coordinator | ucLADINO | Organized weekly Judeo-Spanish language workshops, quarterly cultural events, and our annual symposium while building and sustaining dynamic relationships with on-campus and off-campus partners and stakeholders
Memberships
Association for Spanish and Portuguese Historical Studies
Iberian Theater and Performance Network
Ibero Medieval Association of North America
Latin American Studies Association
Modern Language Association
Pacific Ancient and Modern Languages Association
Renaissance Society of America
Southern California Renaissance Conference
The Spain-North Africa Project
