Dr. Karen de Melo
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Profile
Karen de Melo (she/her/hers) holds a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese from Vanderbilt University. Her research engages contemporary Brazilian and Caribbean literature and culture to interrogate issues of race and ethnicity throughout Latin America. Her most recent research focuses on authors whose literary works of speculative fiction foreground Afro and Indigenous elements in their literary projects. Her previous publications include a chapter in the collection of essays entitled Literatura e Direitos humanos (2018) published in Brazil.
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Grants and Fellowships
GLI Graduate Student Programming Grant (2023), Afrofuturism Event at Vanderbilt
Joe and Mary Harper Fellowship Recipient (2022), Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University Graduate School Travel Grant (2022)
Tinker Field Research Grants Update - São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Summer 2022)
Russel G. Hamilton Scholar for prior scholastic accomplishments, Vanderbilt (2018)
Vanderbilt University Provost’s Graduate Fellowship (2018-2024)
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Awards
E. Inman Fox Romance Language Award for Excellence in Teaching (2023)
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Presentations
Intro and Q&A, As boas maneiras (2019), iLens Film Festival at Vanderbilt (2019)
Intro and Q&A, A febre (2021), iLens Film Festival at Vanderbilt (2021)
Intro, Medusa (2022), Belcourt Theater (2022)
Intro and Q&A (2022) iLens Film Festival at Vanderbilt (2022)
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Grants and Fellowships
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Publications
Book ChaptersMelo, Karen. “Redesenhando o Brasil: Raça nos quadrinhos brasileiros”. Literatura e Direitos humanos. Edited by Regina Dalcastagnè, Paula Q. Dutra, Graziele Frederico. Editora Zouk. 2018. 111-126.Reviews
“Soccer and Racism. The Beginnings of Futebol in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, 1895-1933.” Edited by Anna Grimaldi, Brasiliana. Fall 2023.
“In the Black Fantastic.” Edited by David Wilson, Exrapolation. 2024.