- Arizona State University

Vera Ruth Coleman
Arizona State University, Tempe Campus
School of International Letters and Cultures
PO Box 870202
Tempe, AZ 85287
[email protected]
EDUCATION
Doctor of Philosophy in Spanish – Cultural Studies (expected May 2017) Arizona State
University
Committee: Cynthia Tompkins (chair), Carmen de Urioste, David William Foster, Joni
Adamson
Dissertation: “Beyond the Anthropocene: Multispecies Encounters in Contemporary
Latin American Literature, Art, and Film”
Abstract: From an interdisciplinary perspective that incorporates emerging
theories in multispecies ethnography, material ecocriticism, and queer ecology, I
examine aesthetic representations of multispecies relationships while uncovering
indigenous and other-than-dominant epistemologies about human-nonhuman
entanglements in an age of planetary crisis. I argue that writers, filmmakers, and
artists such as Teresa Porzacanski, Daniela Tarazona, Astrid Cabral, Juan Carlos
Galeano, Lucía Puenzo, Alejandra Zermeño, María Fernanda Cardoso, and Solmi
Angarita depart from the dystopian ecological narratives of recent decades by
casting the moment of encounter between species as a hopeful figuration of a
world beyond the Anthropocene in which diverse species flourish together,
forging a better future for our shared planet.
Master of Arts in Spanish – Literature and Culture, with distinction (May 2013) Arizona
State University
Committee: Cynthia Tompkins (chair), Carmen de Urioste, Manuel Hernández
Thesis: Cuerpo y universo: aproximaciones poshumanistas a la materialidad en la poesía
de Cristina Peri Rossi y Cecilia Vicuña
Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, with high honors (May 2010) University of Montana
Minor: English
Committee: Eduardo Chirinos (faculty mentor), Jannine Montauban (second faculty
reader)
Honors Thesis: Un film sentimental para tus ojos: el cinematógrafo en la poesía ultraísta
de Lucía Sánchez Saornil
Study Abroad Program (January-July 2009) Universidad de Granada, Spain
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RESEARCH INTERESTS
20th and 21st Century Latin American Literature and Cultural Production
Women Writers of Spain and Latin America
Visual Media, Popular Culture, Digital Humanities
Environmental Humanities, Material Ecocriticism, Queer Ecologies
Indigenous Knowledges, Environmental Justice
Feminism and Gender Studies
PUBLICATIONS
Journal Articles (peer-reviewed)
4. “El huso en el centro del universo: el entrelazamiento cuántico en la poesía visual de
Cecilia Vicuña.” Letras femeninas 42.2 (2016). Forthcoming.
3. “Becoming a Fish: Trans-Species Beings in Narrative Fiction of the Southern Cone.”
Interdisciplinary Studies in Literature and Environment. 2016. Doi: 10.1093/isle/isw073.
2. “Emergent Rhizomes: Posthumanist Environmental Ethics in the Participatory Art of Ala
Plástica.” Confluencia 31.2 (2016): 85-98.
1. “‘Le propongo un juego’: la performatividad del género y las relaciones matrimoniales en
Trescientos veintiuno, trescientos veintidós de Ana Diosdado.” Gestos 59 (2015): 51-65.
Book Reviews
4. Westling, Louise. The Logos of the Living World: Merleau-Ponty, Animals, and
Language. Studies in 20th & 21st Century Literature 39.2 (2015): n.p.
3. Grosz, Elizabeth. Becoming Undone: Darwinian Reflections on Life, Politics, and Art.
Studies in 20th & 21st Century Literature 39.1 (2015): n.p.
2. Frederik, Laurie. Trumpets in the Mountains: Theater and the Politics of National
Culture in Cuba. AmeriQuests 11.2 (2014): n.p.
1. Escaja, Tina. 13 lunas 13. Feministas Unidas Newsletter 34.1 (2014): 14.
Works in Progress
2. “Liquid Resistance: Performance, Environmental Justice, and Indigenous Epistemologies
in Latin America.”
1. “The Root and the Brain: Vegetal Allegories in Oliva Sabuco’s New Philosophy of
Human Nature (1587).”
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Editorial Work
Editorial Assistant, Rewriting the Nation: Novels by Women on Violence in Colombia by Annie
Mendoza. Tempe, AZ: AILCFH, 2015.
Non-Academic Writing
3. “Looking Within: Psychology Honors Student Discovers Introspection in Children.”
CLAS Magazine 3.2 (2014): 15-16. College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, ASU.
2. “Staging the Disappeared: Theater Student Explores Iranian and Argentine Politics.”
Research Matters. Office of Knowledge Enterprise Development, ASU, 14 January 2014.
Web. <https://researchmatters.asu.edu/stories/staging-disappeared-theater-studentexplores-iranian-and-argentine-politics-3036>
1. “The Confluence of Cultures: Six Unforgettable Months in Granada.” Davidson Honors
College Newsletter. University of Montana, September 2009. 4-5.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
15. “Women, Wars, and Water: Corporeal Environmental Politics in the Andes.” 48th Annual
Convention of the Northeast Modern Language Association. Baltimore, MD. March 2326, 2017. Accepted.
14. “Los ojos de la Medusa: la agencialidad de la mirada femenina en La Regenta.” 26th
Annual Conference of the Asociación Internacional de Literatura y Cultura Femenina
Hispánica. Houston, TX. November 10-12, 2016.
13. “Sexualidades polimorfas y naturalezas múltiples: hacia una política de lo queer y
ecológico en XXY y El niño pez de Lucía Puenzo.” 25th Annual Conference of the
Asociación Internacional de Literatura y Cultura Femenina Hispánica. Milwaukee, WI.
October 8-10, 2015.
12. “Becoming a Fish: Trans-Species Beings in Narrative Fiction of the Southern Cone.” 11th
Biennial Conference of the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment.
Moscow, ID. June 23-27, 2015.
11. “‘¿Se estaría transformando en pez?’ los seres trans-especies en las obras narrativas de
María Luisa Bombal y Teresa Porzecanski.” 18th Annual Spanish Graduate Literature
Conference, ASU. March 20-21, 2015.
10. “The Root and the Brain: Vegetal Allegories in Oliva Sabuco’s New Philosophy of
Human Nature (1587).” 21st Annual Interdisciplinary Conference in Medieval and
Renaissance Studies, Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies. Phoenix,
AZ. February 5-7, 2015.
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9. “‘Le propongo un juego...’: performatividad del género y relaciones matrimoniales en
Trescientos veintiuno, trescientos veintidós de Ana Diosdado.” Congreso de Literatura y
Cultura Femenina Hispánica, organized by the Universitat de Barcelona in affiliation
with the Asociación Internacional de Literatura y Cultura Femenina Hispánica. La
Habana, Cuba. November 10-14, 2014.
8. “La vida del gen: tecnociencia y ética ambiental poshumanista en Recuerda Mundo de
Virginia Ferrer.” 17th Annual Spanish Graduate Literature Conference, ASU. March 2829, 2014.
7. “El huso en el centro del universo: el entrelazamiento cuántico en la poesía visual de
Cecilia Vicuña.” 4th Biennial Graduate Student Conference, Department of Hispanic
Languages and Literatures, University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, PA. October 25-26,
2013.
6. “Emergent Rhizomes: Posthumanism and Embodied Environmental Ethics in the
Participatory Art of Ala Plástica.” 10th Biennial Conference of the Association for the
Study of Literature and Environment. Lawrence, KS. May 28-June 1, 2013.
5. “Rizomas emergentes: el posthumanismo y la ética ambiental incardinada en el arte
participativo de Ala Plástica.” 16th Annual Spanish Graduate Literature Conference,
ASU. February 22-23, 2013.
4. “‘Te aman mis jugos interiores’: La corporalidad posthumanista en la poesía de Cristina
Peri Rossi.” 22nd Annual Conference of the Asociación Internacional de Literatura y
Cultura Femenina Hispánica. Grand Rapids, MI. November 8-10, 2012.
3. “La corporalidad posthumanista en la poesía erótica de Cristina Peri Rossi.” Graduate
Student Colloquium, Department of Spanish and Portuguese, University of CaliforniaBerkeley. Berkeley, CA. April 13-14, 2012.
2. “El neocolonialismo ecológico: la justicia ambiental, el conocimiento indígena y el lugar
en Floricanto en Aztlán de Alurista.” 14th Annual Spanish Graduate Literature
Conference, ASU. March 4-6, 2011.
1. “Un film sentimental para tus ojos: el cinematógrafo en la poesía ultraísta de Lucía
Sánchez Saornil.” 24th National Conference on Undergraduate Research, University of
Montana. Missoula, MT. April 15-17, 2010.
INVITED TALKS
“Performing Environmental (In)Justice in Latin America.” Westminster College, Salt Lake City,
UT. October 25, 2016.
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DIGITAL HUMANITIES
Domínguez, María José, Vera Coleman, Thomas Shalloe, and Alejandro López. Latam-Films.
ASU, 2015. Web. <http://mjdv98.wix.com/latam-films>.
Latam-Films is a bilingual website with critical resources on Latin American women
filmmakers. Its expanding database features director biographies, critical reviews,
bibliographies, and multimedia resources.
TEACHING INTERESTS
Environmental Humanities
Latin American Literature, Culture, and Film
Hispanic Women Writers
Beginning and Intermediate Spanish Language
Conversation and Composition
Feminist and Queer Studies
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
A) Arizona State University, School of International Letters and Cultures
Graduate Teaching Associate (instructor of record), Fall 2010-present
Literature and Culture Courses
Colonial and Postcolonial Latin American Literature (SPA 427: 1 section, online)
Introduction to Hispanic Literature (SPA 325: 3 sections, online)
Language and Culture Courses (Upper-Division)
Spanish Conversation and Composition (SPA 313: 2 sections, in-person and online)
Language and Culture Courses (Lower-Division)
Intermediate Spanish (SPA 202: 5 sections, hybrid* and online)
Intermediate Spanish (SPA 201: 3 sections, hybrid* and online)
Fundamentals of Spanish (accelerated) (SPA 111: 2 sections, hybrid*)
Elementary Spanish (SPA 102: 5 sections, hybrid* and online)
Elementary Spanish (SPA 101: 5 sections, hybrid* online)
*Hybrid courses have 3 weekly face-to-face contact hours.
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B) Other teaching experience:
Long-Term Full-Time Substitute, Montana Academy, Marion, MT, Summer 2011
Spanish I, II, III, Independent Study
Algebra I
Montana Academy is a rigorous high school and clinical program for college-bound
students, accredited by NIPSA, AdvancED and the Joint Commission. The school
operates year-round on a twelve-week block system with small, multi-level classes.
Student Mentor, Davidson Honors College, University of Montana, 2008-9
HC 120: Introduction to Honors Seminar (2 sections)
As teaching assistant to James McKusick, Dean of the Davidson Honors College for
two sections of HC 120, I facilitated class discussions, directed writing workshops,
and organized Leadership Retreats for first-year Presidential Leadership Scholars.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Research Assistant, heritage and second language pedagogy research, Sara Beaudrie, ASU,
2016-present.
Online Platform Assistant, Spanish Second Language Program, ASU, 2015-16 (Coordinator:
Sara Beaudrie)
As Online Platform Assistant, I set up the MySpanishLab online component for all
200-level hybrid and online courses; prepared supplementary materials to support
continuity between online and in-person course components; provided training and
technical support for instructors and additional support for instructors with
disabilities; and served as liaison between the Spanish Language Program and the
publisher, Pearson Education. I also analyzed student survey results and collaborated
on a review of MySpanishLab and MediaShare online platforms.
Spanish Second Language Program Assistant, ASU, 2014-15 (Coordinator: Sara Beaudrie)
As assistant to the Spanish Language Program Coordinator, I managed the Spanish
Writing & Tutoring Center which included developing the online tutoring platform,
scheduling tutors, and preparing reports. I contributed to regular program reviews by
preparing semester enrollment reports and student and instructor surveys. I also
promoted the Spanish minor and major programs through class visits, promotional
videos, and campus events. I collaborated in the lower-division language program
redesign process by developing exams, assignments, projects, rubrics, and calendars,
editing syllabi, and setting up Blackboard course development shells.
Tutor, Spanish Writing and Tutoring Center, ASU, 2014-present.
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PEDAGOGICAL PRESENTATIONS
4. “Coaching Writing in Literature Courses: Insights from L2 Pedagogy.” 3rd Annual Share
Fair, School of International Letters and Cultures, ASU. November 10, 2016.
3. “PowToon: Tools for the Flipped Classroom.” 2nd Annual Share Fair, School of
International Letters and Cultures, ASU. November 13, 2015.
2. “Best Practices for Online Teaching.” With Margaret Alvarado. Spanish Language
Program TA Orientation, ASU. August 19, 2015.
1. “¡Estás como una cabra! Modismos, diccionarios y el concepto de la traducción.” Spanish
Language Program TA Orientation, ASU. August 20, 2014.
SERVICE
Departmental Service
School of International Letters and Cultures, Arizona State University
Peer Mentor, Spanish Graduate Student Association, 2013-present.
President, Theta Epsilon Chapter, Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor
Society, 2014-15.
Founding Head Coordinator, Entre Amig@s Spanish Conversation Club, 2014-15.
Homecoming Block Party, 2013-15.
Night of the Open Door, 2014-15.
High School Language Fair, 2011-15.
Beta-Tester, Arizona Classroom Teacher Spanish Proficiency Exam, 2013.
LearnSmart Focus Group (McGraw-Hill), 2012.
Institutional Service
Arizona State University
Assistant Director, Teaching Excellence Award Program, Graduate and Professional
Student Association, ASU, 2014.
Vice Chair, Teaching Excellence Award Committee, Graduate and Professional Student
Association, ASU, 2013-14.
Service to the Profession
White Rabbit: English Studies in Latin America. Special issue on Environmental Studies.
 Guest Reviewer. 2016.
11th Biennial Conference of the Association for the Study of Literature and Environment
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
Panel Co-Organizer. “Cosmopolitics Beyond the Anthropocene III.” Panelists:
Juan Carlos Galeano, Abigail Pérez Aguilera (chair), Vera Coleman, Mark
Anderson, Zelia Bora. 2015.
21st Annual Interdisciplinary Conference in Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Arizona
Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies
 Panel Organizer. “Sacred, Magical and Material: Philosophical Allegories in
Spanish Literature of the Renaissance.” Panelists: Elena Cordan, Roberto Ortiz
Manzanilla, Vera Coleman. Chair: Juan Pablo Gil-Oslé. 2015.
Spanish Graduate Student Association Conference (ASU)
 Session Chair, 2014.
 Registration, 2012, 2013.
 Conference Organizing Committee, 2011.
American Society for Environmental History Conference
 Conference Assistant, 2011.
GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Travel Grant, Graduate and Professional Student Association, ASU, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,
2016.
Travel Grant, School of International Letters and Cultures, ASU, 2014, 2016.
Travel Grant, Asociación Internacional de Literatura y Cultura Femenina Hispánica, 2014.
Foster Latin American Research PhD Fellowship, ASU, 2013-14.
Graduate College Dean’s Fellowship, ASU, 2013-14. ($10,000)
Travel Award, Association for the Study of Literature and Environment, 2013.
Presidential Leadership Full Ride Scholarship, University of Montana, 2006-10.
Dailey Study Abroad Scholarship, University of Montana, 2009.
Bernice A. Gleed Scholarship in Pre-Medicine, University of Montana, 2007, 2008.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Passed with Distinction, PhD Comprehensive Exams, ASU, 2016.
Graduate Excellence Award, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, ASU, 2016.
13th Annual Essay Award for Graduate Students, Feministas Unidas, 2015.
Teaching Excellence Award, Graduate and Professional Student Association, ASU, 2015.
Student Leader Award, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, ASU, 2015.
Ecocriticism Graduate Student Paper Award, Association for the Study of Literature and
Environment, 2015.
Graduate Student Paper Award, Asociación Internacional de Literatura y Cultura Femenina
Hispánica, 2015.
Gabriela Mistral Award, Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, 2015.
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Outstanding Senior Award, Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures,
University of Montana, 2010.
Henry and Marguerite Ephron Award in Modern Languages, University of Montana, 2009.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
“Master Class for Teaching Online.” EdPlus, ASU, September 19-October 2, 2016.
“Online Language Learning Platforms.” Jen Vojtko Rubi (University of Iowa), ASU, August 16,
2016.
“Preparing Future Faculty.” ASU, 2015-16.
Year-long series of seminars, discussions, and activities designed to expose a select group
of graduate students to the realities of teaching, research, and service in higher education.
The overarching goal of the program is to enable graduates to make the transition
successfully to employment in the academic community equipped with a realistic
knowledge of academic culture and career expectations.
“VoiceThread in Online Courses.” George Haines, ASUonline, ASU, January 28, 2016.
“Preparing to Submit for Possible Publication.” Jessica Jones, Graduate Writing Center, ASU,
November 18, 2015.
“Heritage Learners in L2 Classes: What Can I Do?” Aymará Boggiano (Rice University) and
Amy Uribe (LoneStar College), McGraw-Hill, September 17, 2015.
“Online Teacher Training.” Carla Ghanem and Rebecca Berber-McNeill, ASU, August 17, 2015.
“Getting Started: Creating Your Course,” “Assigning Activities to Calendar,” “Gradebook
Overview.” Caridad Jimenez, MySpanishLab Faculty Advisor, Pearson Education, July
15-20, 2015.
“The Seven Affordances of Online Learning.” Jenni Hayman and DeAnna Soth, Instructional
Designers, EdPlus, ASU, March 31, 2015.
“Teaching for Proficiency or, Making the Medium the Message.” Thomas J. Garza, Texas
Language Center, University of Texas-Austin, March 27, 2015.
“Heinle iLrn.” Jill Nowlin, Learning Consultant, and Deo Diaz, Implementation and Training
Specialist, Cengage Learning, January 2014.
“Adobe Connect, Camtsia Relay and Wimba Voice.” David Parks and Andrew Ross, Learning
Support Services, ASU, January 2014.
“The Core Virtues of Teaching Excellence.” Tom McGovern, Graduate College, ASU, April 8,
2011.
“Foreign Language Classroom Assessment in Support of Teaching and Learning.” Matthew
Poehner, Language Acquisition Resource Center, San Diego State University, February
10, 2011.
“Activating Communication: Five Ways to Enhance Communication Using Technology.” Toni
Theisen, American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, November 15, 2010.
“Classroom Language Assessment: Principles and Practice.” Mark Overstreet, Cengage
Learning, September 24, 2010.
“Heinle iLrn.” Nina Jaleeli, Learning Solutions Specialist, Cengage Learning, August 2010.
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PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
Asociación Internacional de Literatura y Cultura Femenina Hispánica
Association for the Study of Literature and Environment
Feministas Unidas
Latin American Studies Association
Modern Language Association
LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
English (native proficiency)
Spanish (near-native proficiency)
Portuguese (reading proficiency)
French (reading proficiency)
REFERENCES
References available upon request.