My Academic Journey
I was born in a home where the grass was made of broken glass, but I grew up to earn a doctorate. This is my journey of resilience.
My mother's Spanish fotonovelas were my refuge from an abusive home. I began to craft my own picture stories with Spanish captions, using drawing and writing to cope with the turmoil around me. Later, these creative outlets became a way to preserve my memories. They also fostered a passion for survival, life, and learning, giving me the resilience to face the unpredictable challenges of breast cancer and my mother's dementia.
However, my journey was not only about overcoming adversity; it was also about pursuing excellence. After years of working as a theater artist and playwright, I decided to chase my academic goals with determination. I overcame the odds and became the first in my family to earn a Bachelor's degree, which I had started in my late teens, and finished it with the highest honors in less than two years. In addition, I added a Master's degree to my achievements only a year and a half later. But the crowning moment of my journey was when I fulfilled my childhood dream of obtaining a Doctorate in Philosophy. With my husband and children cheering me on, I reached the summit of my academic aspirations.
As a result, I discovered that drawing and writing were more than escapism; they were powerful tools for resilience. The cement backyard of my childhood home, where the grass was made of broken glass, still shapes me, but it does not limit me. The old paper smell of the library, the colors and images of paintings from master artists, the prose and poetry of writers before me, and the stories of extraordinary women waiting to be uncovered - these still ignite new emotional and sensory memories of the love of learning that has been with me since before my first day of Kindergarten.
I hope my journey inspires others to overcome obstacles and realize their dreams.
My Research Interests
As a researcher, my interests are rooted in cognition and embodiment, mainly focusing on Early Modern Spanish Theater and Women and Gender Studies. My passion lies in exploring the stories and experiences of extraordinary women who significantly contributed to the theater industry in seventeenth-century Spain. My latest book project centers on the lives of four trailblazing women who played a pivotal role in the emergence of women as actors and theater entrepreneurs in the mid-1600s.
My work includes my first book, "Women's Somatic Training in Early Modern Spanish Theater," and several journal and anthology articles showcasing women as active agents in early modern Spanish plays and theater. By analyzing philosophical treatises and plays from a feminist perspective, I aim to highlight how women were instrumental in shaping the theatrical landscape of the time. As an invited scholar and presenter at numerous major conferences and workshops, I delve deeper into topics such as engendering the stage, body politics, and the influential roles of women as actors, directors, and mentors.
My Pedagogical Philosophy
As an educator, I firmly believe that learning shouldn't be confined to one area. That's why my teaching philosophy embraces interdisciplinary studies and collaborative authorship. My ultimate goal is to create a dynamic classroom environment where both students and teachers learn from each other and where students feel safe to express themselves and take risks. By exploring different perspectives and cultures, students are encouraged to think outside the box and develop innovative approaches to learning. My passion lies in inspiring my students to fall in love with language, literature, and theater, igniting their curiosity, and motivating them to pursue their dreams.
My Artistic Work
I weave a colorful tapestry of theater with both traditional and innovative techniques. I collaborate with playwrights, actors, and directors to create magic on stage. I'm passionate about fostering cross-cultural exchange and sparking dialogue between artists, community members, and academia.
My plays reflect my unwavering commitment to women's and gender issues, especially in the Latinx community. I delve into subjects often brushed under the carpet, such as domestic abuse, AIDS, incest, misogyny, and immigration. Some of my recent works are:
- Daisies by the Sea
- Dreaming with el Coquí
- The Night Before
- Dreaming of Oz
- La Amazona Bárbara Coronel: A Short Play
- Broken Silence (screenplay)
I also enjoy working on collaborative projects, such as:
- Moving Muses, an installation performance piece with the Norwegian Sculptor Marit Benthe Norheim
- La verdad no duele, a co-written and directed video
- Rosario's Barrio, The Melting Plot, and ¿Quién sabe quién soy?, ensemble pieces that I helped develop
I'm proud to have had my work showcased by esteemed theater companies like Teatro de la Esperanza, Teatro del Pueblo, Pangea World Theater, the Playwrights' Center, and Teatro Latino de Minnesota. My ultimate goal as a playwright is to push the boundaries of traditional theater and make it more inclusive and representative of our diverse society.
Academic Awards and Honors
Invited Lecturer, Kirsten Kjær Museum, Denmark, May 2024
Invited Lecturer, The Institute for Learning in Retirement, Florida 2020
Invited Lecturer, University of Denmark, Odense, Denmark 2020
RSA Diversity Grant 2019
Invited Scholar, McMaster University, in partnership with Stratford Festivals 2018
Invited Scholar, University of Konstanz, Germany 2018
Fellow, The Center for Body, Mind, and Culture at FAU 2017-present
Invited Scholar, Sigma Delta Pi, Chapter Rho Omicron, Florida 2017
Postdoctoral Fellow, The Center for Body, Mind, and Culture at FAU 2015-2017
Provost’s Dissertation-Year Fellowship Award 2010-2011
Ford Foundation Diversity Ph.D. Dissertation Fellowship, Honorable Mention 2011
Sigma Delta Pi Graduate Research Grant 2010
Delores A. Auzenne Ph.D. Fellowship Award 2008-2010
Ford Foundation Diversity Ph.D. Fellowship, Honorable Mention 2009
Graduate Diversity Fellowship 2008
Graduate Student Summer Research Fellowship 2007
Artistic Awards
AGE Legacy Playwright Grant Finalist 2023
Artist-in-Residence, Hjørring, DK 2023
The Playwrights’ Center’s Recognition at the Ivey Awards Ceremony 2013
Latina Writer Festival, Teatro del Pueblo, Minneapolis 1998
Festival Latino IV, El Teatro de la Esperanza, San Francisco 1996
The Playwrights’ Center Many Voices Residency Award, MN 1995
Intermedia Arts Mentor: Extensions Program for Artists of Color, Minneapolis, 1994
Minnesota State Arts Board Career Opportunity Grant, St. Paul, MN 1994
McKnight Foundation Arts Grant 1994, 1996
Metropolitan Foundation Arts Grant 1994-1996
Minnesota Theater Festival “Playwriting Contest,” Albert Lea, MN, Judge 1996
Jerome Foundation Arts Grant 1996
National Endowment for the Arts Expansion Grant 1995
Minneapolis Arts Commission Grant 1994-1995
The Playwrights’ Center “Playwriting Grants,” Minneapolis, Judge 1994-1995
MAX ’93 Grant, Minnesota Arts Experience, Minneapolis 1993
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