Rebecca L. Salois
Lecturer Doc Sch
Weissman School of Arts and Sciences
Department: Black and Latino Studies
Areas of expertise: Latin American and Latinx Literature and Pop-Culture
Email Address: rebecca.salois@baruch.cuny.edu
> View CV- Biography
- Teaching
- Research and Creative Activity
- Grants
- Honors and Awards
- Service
Dr. Rebecca L. Salois is a full-time Lecturer in the Black and Latino Studies Department at Baruch College, CUNY where she teaches Latin American and Latine literature and pop-culture. She earned her B.A. and M.A. in Spanish from the University of New Hampshire, and her M.Phil in Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Languages, and PhD in Latin American, Iberian, and Latino Cultures from The Graduate Center, CUNY.
Dr. Salois taught high school Spanish in New Hampshire before moving to New York in 2010. In addition to teaching at Baruch, she has instructed courses at Brooklyn College, The Fashion Institute, Hunter College, City College, and Macaulay Honors College. She also served as a Writing across the Curriculum Fellow at Hostos Community College for two years. In 2012, she began teaching World Literature in the Modern Languages and Comparative Literature Department at Baruch and transferred to the English Department in 2015. She joined the Black and Latino Studies Department in 2020.
In 2023, Dr. Salois was awarded the Weissman School of Arts and Sciences Award for Excellence in Teaching for Part-Time Faculty. During the 2021-2022 academic year she served as the Audio and Digital Pedagogy Fellow in Black and Latino Studies and was chosen as an Andrew W. Mellon Transformative Learning in the Humanities Fellow and. As part of the Mellon fellowship, she explored and implemented practices of “ungrading,” which allow for a more inclusive and student-centric approach to learning. She is open to new and innovative approaches to pedagogy and assignments including self-grading, co-creating and designing course syllabi, and alternative and creative research projects.
Her research interests range from Latin American and Caribbean theater to US Latinx identity representation in pop-culture media. Her work has been published in Journal of Interdisciplinary Humanities, Hispanic Studies Review, Cuban Studies, and Words without Borders. She has presented and hosted several academic panels, including two at New York Comic Con.
Additionally, Dr. Salois co-hosts and produces three podcasts: Latinx Visions with Baruch Colleague Dr. Rojo Robles, Big Reputations with Kimberly Kunkle, and Coach Beard's Book Club with Michaela Hunter, Andrea DiMauro-Walton, and Marita Barth. She is the former host of the Why Do We Read This? podcast.
Website: https://opencuny.org/rebeccalsalois/
Twitter: @rlsalois
Education
Ph.D., Latin American, Iberian, and Latino Cultures, The Graduate Center, City University of New York New York United States
M.Phil., Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Languages, The Graduate Center, City University of New York New York United States
M.A., Spanish, University of New Hampshire Durham United States
B.A., Spanish/International Affairs, University of New Hampshire Durham United States
| Semester | Course Prefix | Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2021 | BLS | 4902 | Cultures and Societies |
| Summer 2021 | BLS | 3038 | Survey of Caribbean Lit in Eng |
| Fall 2020 | ANT | 3015 | Cuban Culture and Society |
| Summer 2020 | BLS | 3038 | Survey of Caribbean Lit in Eng |
Journal Articles
(2022). Humor, Coping, and Change in Special Period Cuba: Interpreting the Role of Visual Choteo in Vereda Tropical by Joaquín Miguel Cuartas Rodríguez. Hispanic Studies Review, 6(1). 18.
(2020). Verifying Latinx Identities: Complex Character Representation in the Television Series One Day at a Time. Journal of Interdisciplinary Humanities, 37(2). 83-99.
Book Chapters
Salois, R. L., & Karkanias, A. "For Something Larger": Our Flag Means Death's Legacy. The Psychgeist of Pop-Culture: Our Flag Means Death
Media Contributions
Salois, R. L., & Robles Mejias, R. (2026). Latinx Visions Podcast, Season 10: Puertorriqueñas.
Salois, R. L., Robles Mejias, R., & Caroccio Maldonado, J. (2025). Latinx Visions Podcast, Season 8: Latinx Cultural Politics.
Three podcast episodes considering Latinx Cultural Politics through conversations with different individuals on the subjects of visual arts, community theater, and graphic narratives.
Salois, R. L., & Robles Mejias, R. (2025). Latinx Visions Podcast, Season 9: Latinx Borders.
We released three episodes on the topic of Latinx Borders. Additionally I recorded, edited, and produced a bonus episode interviewing three students from BLS about their experiences in the department.
Salois, R. L., & Robles Mejias, R. (2024). Latinx Visions Podcast, Season 7: Latinx Speculative Narratives.
Four podcast episodes considering Latinx Speculative Narratives through conversations about short stories, podcasts, graphic novels, and film.
(2024). Latinx Visions Podcast, Season 6: Latinx Climate Activism.
Four podcast episodes considering Latinx Climate Activism through conversations with different individuals and organizations about the connections between culture, community, and climate.
(2023). Latinx Visions Podcast, Season 5: Amplifying Latinx Voices.
Four interview-based episodes celebrating the voices, stories, and experiences of Latinx people.
Salois, R. L., & Robles Mejias, R. (2021). Latinx Visions Podcast, (Podbean).
A Latinx-focused podcast in which we discuss (sometimes with guests) Latinx film, television, literature, the arts, and more.
Salois, R. L., & Robles Mejias, R. (2021). Latinx Visions Podcast, Season 1: Latinas, (Podbean).
A Latinx-focused podcast in which we discuss (sometimes with guests) Latinx film, television, literature, the arts, and more.
Presentations
Salois, R. L., Charon, A., Martinez, C., & Ramirez Melchor, L. (2026, April 4). Engaging in Collaborative Course Design - A Conversation with Students. CUNY Teaching and Learning Conference. The Graduat Center, CUNY
Rodriguez, E., Salois, R. L., & Caroccio Maldonado, J. (2026, March 27). Harman Reading and Conversation with Edel Rodriguez. Baruch College, NY: Harman Program.
Salois, R. L., Robles Mejias, R., & Trelles, M. (2026, March 7). Latinx Visions (live recording) - Interview with Miguel Trelles. Speaking Volumes: A Symposium on Sound and Listening. Teatro LATEA, NY
Salois, R. L. (2026, October 20). Comics in College, Pop-Culture Pedagogy, and Fandom Final Projects. New York Comic Con. New York, NY: New York Comic Con and the New York Public Library.
Salois, R. L. (2026, October 20). Reinforcing Student Comprehension through Academic Writing and Graphic Narratives. Comics in College, Pop-Culture Pedagogy, and Fandom Final Projects. New York, NY: New York Comic Con and the New York Public Library.
Salois, R. L. (2026, October 20). Pop-Culture, Fandom, and Comics in the College Classroom. New York Comic Con. New York, NY: New York Comic Con and the New York Public Library.
Salois, R. L. (2026, October 20). Pop-Culture Parallels. Pop-Culture, Fandom, and Comics in the College Classroom. New York, NY: New York Comic Con and the New York Public Library.
Salois, R. L. Student-Led Syllabi. CTL Teaching Innovations Showcase. Virtual Roundtable: Center for Teaching and Learning, Baruch College.
Salois, R. L. Why Do We Read This? A Literature Podcast. The Value (and Struggles) of Public Engagement. Virtual Roundtable: North East Modern Language Association.
Salois, R. L. Podcasts, Pop-Culture, and Academia. Bridging Cultural Gaps: Geek Fandom across Academic Disciplines. Virtual Roundtable: Kentucky Communication Association.
Salois, R. L. Life Advice: The Scholar's Guide and GISH. Academic Renegades: Scholarly Investigations of Fandom and Fanfic II. Virtual Roundtable: Super Heroines Con.
Salois, R. L. Fandom Spending: Lessons Learned from a 12th-Century Chinese Poet. Academic Renegades: Scholarly Investigations of Fandom and Fanfic. Virtual Roundtable: Nerd Alert News Convention.
Salois, R. L. (2026, March 20). Performing Identities: Representing Cubanidad through Visual Literatures. North East Modern Language Association. Boston, MA: North East Modern Language Association.
Salois, R. L. (2026, March 20). One Character at a Time: Identity Verification through Representations of cubanidad in Television. North East Modern Language Association. Boston, MA: North East Modern Language Association.
Salois, R. L. Why Do We Read This? Connecting the Supernatural Fandom to Great Works of Literature. So Get This: Supernatural Under an Academic Lens. Virtual Roundtable: Nerds and Beyond.
Salois, R. L. (2026, April 20). Vereda tropical: Choteo and Change in Special Period Cuba. Kentucky Foreign Language Conference. Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky.
Salois, R. L. (2026, March 20). Virgilio Piñera's El flaco y el gordo: Food as Power in Cuban Theater. Food for Thought: Metaphors of Eating in Literature and Film. New Haven, CT: North East Modern Language Association.
Salois, R. L. (2026, March 20). El velorio de Pura: An Evolution of Choteo in Cuban Theater. GRAPHSY: Herencia y Tradicion, Looking Back, Moving Forward. Washington DC: Georgetown University.
Salois, R. L. (2026, April 20). Choteo and Gender Roles in El velorio de Pura, by Flora Diaz Parrado. Kentucky Foreign Language Conference. Lexington, KY: University of Kentucky.
Salois, R. L. Minor Vioces, Major Impact - The Importance of the Other in Jose Pablo Feinmann's Cuestiones con Ernesto Che Guevara. 18th Annual Student Congress, Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Literatures and Languages. New York, NY: The Graduate Center, CUNY.
Salois, R. L. (2026, March 20). Forgotten Voices: Another Look at the Cuban Revolution, Cuestiones con Ernesto Che Guevara by Jose Pablo Feinmann. Dialogos: The Tenth Annual Graduate Student Research Conference. Bloomington, IN: Indiana University.
Salois, R. L. A Message to the Cuban People: Choteo and Virgilio Piñera's El flaco y el gordo. Kentucky Foreign Language Conference; Cuban Studies Conference. Lexington, KY; New York, NY: University of Kentucky; The Graduate Center, CUNY.
Salois, R. L. Colonial Cuban Theatre? Hybridity and Transculturation in Santiago Pita's El principe jardinero. In Trans: Reading Between and Beyond. New York, NY: The Graduate Center, CUNY.
Salois, R. L. Un destino sudamericano: Jose Pablo Feinmann y Cuestiones con Ernesto Che Guevara. 2nd Annual Conference on Spanish and Portuguese Studies. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University.
Salois, R. L. Grammar in the TPRS Classroom. New Hampsire Association of World Language Teachers. Meredith, NH: NHAWLT.
Other Scholarly Works
Salois, R. L. (2017). Tourism, 'Tradition,' and the Politics of Humor in the Cuban Play '¡Guan Melón! ¡Tu Melón!'. Words without Borders.
Reviews
Salois, R. L. (2026,March 20). Review of Diary of Fire by Elías Miguel Muñoz. Cuban Studies. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.
Salois, R. L. (2026,February 20). Review of La Isla de los ingenios by Fernando Garciá del Río. Cuban Studies. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press.
| Honor / Award | Organization Sponsor | Date Received | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominee, Weissman Award for Excellence in Full-Time Teaching | Weissman School of Arts and Sciences | 2026-04-03 | |
| Nominee, Weissman Award for Excellence in Peer and Student Mentorship | Weissman School of Arts and Sciences | 2026-04-03 | |
| Open-Source Teaching Fellow | Center for Teaching and Learning, Baruch College | 2024-12-16 | A semester-long opportunity to connect with other Baruch faculty and staff and develop skills with Open-Source technologies for learning and engagement. |
| Andrew W. Mellon - Black and Latinx Publics Faculty Fellow | Black and Latino Studies Department | 2023-08-09 | |
| Award for Excellence in Teaching for Part-Time Faculty | Weissman School of Arts and Sciences | 2023-05-11 | |
| Audio and Digital Pedagogy Fellow in Black and Latinx Studies | Baruch College | 2021-08-30 | |
| Andrew W. Mellon Transformative Learning in the Humanities Faculty Fellow | City University of New York | 2021-05-03 | |
| Nominee, Barbara Reich Gluck Teaching Excellence Award | Baruch College - English Department | 2020-04-22 | |
| Nominee, Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguised Teaching | Baruch College - Office of the Associate Provost | 2019-02-22 | |
| Writing Across the Curriculum Fellowship | Hostos Community College | 2015-05-20 | |
| Goizueta Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship | Cuban Heritage Collection, University of Miami | 2015-04-06 | |
| Provost's Summer Research Award | The Graduate Center, CUNY | 2014-05-19 | |
| Doctoral Student Research Grant | The Graduate Center, CUNY | 2014-01-13 | |
| Enhanced Chancellor's Fellowship | The Graduate Center, CUNY | 2010-08-10 |
College
| Committee Name | Position Role | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black and Latino Studies Faculty Committee | Committee Member | Present | |
| Honors Advisory Committee | Committee Member | Present | |
| Library Committee | Committee Chair | Present | |
| BLS Student Advising | Faculty Advisor | Present | |
| Honors Faculty Admissions Committee | Committee Member | Present | |
| Curriculum Committee - Black and Latino Studies | Committee Member | Present | |
| Letters of Recommendation | Faculty Advisor | 5/29/2026 | |
| FYS Peer Mentor Orientation | Faculty Mentor | 4/17/2026 | |
| Admitted Students Day, Faculty Panel | Panelist | 3/28/2026 | |
| Macaulay Seminar 1 Assessment Scoring | Reader | 3/16/2026 | |
| Macaulay Honors Application Reading | Reader | 1/15/2026 | |
| Consulting Mtg w/Dionne Brown from Academic Advising | Collegue | 1/6/2026 | |
| Weeks of Welcome - Faculty Greeter | Faculty Advisor | 8/28/2025 | |
| Student Project | Interviewee | 5/2/2025 | |
| Letters of Recommendation | Faculty Mentor | 4/10/2025 | |
| Faculty Observations | Observer | 11/6/2024 | |
| Faculty Observations - Spring 2024 | Observer | 3/27/2024 | |
| Faculty Observations - Fall 2023 | Observer | 11/8/2023 |
University
| Committee Name | Position Role | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLS Department Advocacy | Faculty Mentor | 4/25/2025 | 5/12/2025 |
| Committee on Committees | Committee Member | 8/27/2015 | 5/25/2017 |
| Faculty, Students, and Programs Task Force | Committee Member | 8/27/2015 | 5/25/2016 |
| College Association | Committee Member | 8/29/2012 | 5/25/2016 |
| Doctoral Student Council - Grants Committee | Committee Chair | 8/26/2013 | 5/27/2015 |
| Doctoral Student Council | Committee Member | 8/23/2012 | 5/20/2015 |
| HLBLL Executive Committee | Student Placement | 9/1/2011 | 5/25/2012 |
| Organizing Committee HLBLL Annual Student Congress | Committee Member | 9/6/2010 | 4/16/2012 |
Professional
| Organization | Position Role | Organization State | Organization Country | Start Date | End Date | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Latinx Visions Podcast | Writer, Editor, Co-host, Producer | New York | United States | 6/15/2021 | Present | International |