In my dissertation, I analyze diasporic narratives in literature, performance, and music by three Puerto Rican male contemporary artists: René Pérez, Urayoán Noel, and Eduardo Lalo. I focus on gender and space, exploring how their masculinities shape their voices and movements across Puerto Rico, the US, and imaginative realms. Their works reveal struggles with heteronormativity and societal privilege. Despite reflecting a historical Puerto Rican identity, the authors challenge some nationalist narratives. With the notion of espacios-lugares, (places-in-space and/or Wandering Boricuascapes) I focus on and articulate the centrality of movement and diaspora in Puerto Rican identity. While acknowledging blind spots in their portrayal of identity, their art remains vital in mapping not only the Puerto Rican diaspora but also the Puerto Rican identity in the island.

In addition to my associate instructor assistantship, our department has provided me with excellent funding opportunities. I worked as a research assistant for Prof. Melissa Dinverno, editing chapters of the volume Lorca y el archivo. As part of this experience, I also participated as a Content Creator in the Summer Incubator offered by the Institute for Digital Arts and Humanities (IDAH) in August 2022. The project I collaborated on with Professor Dinverno and my team was titled “Mapping Material Stories: Creating a Digital Network of García Lorca Archives.” During the 2022-2023 academic year, I was awarded the Louise McNutt Fellowship, which allowed me to focus on the research and writing of my dissertation. Additionally, I was honored with a Dissertation Research Fellowship from the College of Arts and Sciences through the Latino/a Studies Program.

Throughout my academic career, I have gained extensive experience and knowledge in various teaching roles. As an associate instructor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, I honed my teaching skills and fostered a safe, inclusive environment for my students. Additionally, I had the privilege of serving as an HPFL literature instructor and coordinator for three summers in Ciudad Real, Oviedo, and Almería. This experience not only allowed me to teach literature and culture courses but also helped me develop valuable skills in logistics, planning, and financial management. Furthermore, it enabled me to serve as a mentor and provide a supportive space for students facing the challenges of studying abroad.

Driven by the desire to contribute to creating a welcoming and close-knit environment in our department, I have also participated as treasurer of GSAC 2019-2020 and was part of the organizing committee of Diálogos 2020. Additionally, last year I was the leader of Café Tertulia, an initiative designed to strengthen the relationships among the graduate students in our department.

I am deeply grateful to my mentors, Prof. Jonathan Risner and Prof. Solimar Otero (Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology), for their unwavering support and guidance. They have not only taught me how to be a respectful and diligent academic but also serve as examples of professionals who have not lost their human ways of being in the workplace. I am so thankful to my colleagues and friends from the Department for weaving together a safe and pleasant space in the company of others. I am deeply thankful for the mentorship, friendship, and closeness of Prof. Melissa Dinverno, thank you for helping me “feed the joy” of our work, and for your guidance and trust.