Dr. Jennifer Irish-Mendez, PhD Assistant Professor English and World Languages jennifer.irishmendez [at] westpoint.edu About Education Research & Publications Dr. Jennifer Irish-Mendez teaches all levels of Spanish language, Hispanic American literatures and cultures within the Department of English and World Languages. Her research focuses on contemporary Hispanic Caribbean women writers, performance, and diaspora. She earned her Doctorate of Philosophy in Spanish from Florida State University with a dissertation that explored the (re)construction of national identity and belonging in literature produced by Cuban, Dominican, and Puerto Rican women writers in the United States in the 1990s-early 2000s. Additionally, Jennifer assists with the execution and development of Semester Abroad Programs, AIADs, and other immersion opportunities in the Spanish Program. In her spare time, Jennifer enjoys reading, running, gardening and watching classic films. Ph.D., Spanish - Florida State UniversityM.A., Spanish - West Virginia UniversityB.A., Spanish - Georgia College & State University Research Interests Hispanic Caribbean Literature, US Latina/o Literature, Diaspora, National Identity, Environmental Literary Studies Current Research Contemporary narrative and performance in the Hispanic Caribbean and its diaspora, Cultural iconography and the Latin American cultural imaginary, Best practices and pedagogy for teaching literature in a second language