Aruni Kashyap
Associate Professor and Director of Creative Writing Program · University of Georgia
Multi-genre writer (novels, short stories, poetry) and translator from Assamese to English who directs the Creative Writing Program at University of Georgia. Combines creative practice across fiction, poetry, and literary criticism with translation work and program leadership.
Why: Strong match: directs creative writing program, writes across multiple genres (novels, stories, poetry), translates from indigenous/regional language (Assamese), maintains active creative practice while administering. Different: focuses on South Asian rather than Latin American contexts, but parallel cultural bridge-building through translation.
Cristina Rivera Garza
Director, Ph.D. Program in Creative Writing in Spanish · University of Houston
Writer, historian, and critic who holds the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Chair and directs the Ph.D. Program in Creative Writing in Spanish at University of Houston. Bridges multiple disciplines and languages while leading innovative graduate writing programs.
Why: Excellent match: directs specialized creative writing graduate program, works across Spanish-English linguistic contexts, maintains writing practice while administering. Different: focuses on Spanish-language creative writing PhD rather than MFA programs, but similar bilingual/bicultural bridge-building.
Jhumpa Lahiri
Director, Creative Writing Program; Millicent C. McIntosh Professor of English · Barnard College
Acclaimed writer and translator who directs Barnard's Creative Writing Program while holding professorships across English, Comparative Literature, and Italian. Combines creative writing practice with translation work and program leadership, with particular focus on exophonic writing and Italian literature.
Why: Strong match: directs creative writing program, writes across genres, works in translation, balances creative practice with administration. Different: focuses on Italian/Bengali rather than Latin American contexts, but similar cross-cultural literary work and program leadership.
Marcela Sulak
Director, Shaindy Rudoff Graduate Program in Creative Writing · Bar-Ilan University
Poet and translator who directs a graduate creative writing program while teaching poetry, translation, and hybrid genres. Author of five poetry collections including a National Jewish Book Award finalist, and maintains active creative practice alongside program administration.
Why: Good match: directs graduate creative writing program, works across poetry and translation, balances creative output with administration. Different: less evidence of multi-genre work or Latin American focus, but similar program-building and translation emphasis.
Graham Mort
Founder, Centre for Transcultural Writing and Research · Lancaster University
Prizewinning poet and short story writer who founded Lancaster University's Centre for Transcultural Writing and Research. Combines creative writing practice with multilingual and multi-arts educational projects, specializing in transcultural literary work.
Why: Good match: founded transcultural writing center, writes across poetry and fiction, works in multilingual contexts, balances creative and administrative roles. Different: focuses on transcultural rather than specifically Latin American work, but similar cross-cultural literary bridge-building.
Nathalie Handal
Professor of Literature and Creative Writing · NYU Abu Dhabi
Poet and writer specializing in global literature, poetry, flash fiction, literary travel writing, translation, and diasporic literatures with focus on Mediterranean crossroads. Works across multiple genres and cultural contexts in international academic setting.
Why: Moderate match: writes across multiple genres, works in translation and diasporic contexts, demonstrates geographic mobility. Different: less evidence of program-building/directing roles, focuses on Mediterranean rather than Latin American contexts.
Henry E. Beissel
Distinguished Professor Emeritus · Concordia University
Multi-genre writer (author, playwright, poet, translator, editor) who helped establish Concordia's Creative Writing program. Combined extensive creative practice across literary forms with program-building and academic leadership.
Why: Good match: helped establish creative writing program, worked across multiple genres (plays, poetry, novels), translation work, balanced creative and administrative roles. Different: no evidence of Latin American focus or indigenous language work.
Robin Hemley
Director of Polk School of Communications, Co-Director of MFA in Writing and Publishing · Mercer University
Author of fifteen books of fiction and nonfiction who directs multiple programs including an MFA in Writing and Publishing while holding endowed chair. Combines prolific creative output across genres with extensive administrative leadership.
Why: Good match: directs MFA program, writes across fiction and nonfiction, balances prolific creative output with administrative roles. Different: no evidence of translation work, Latin American focus, or ethnolinguistic scholarship.
