Javier Alvarez Jaimes

Dr. Javier Álvarez-Jaimes is an associate professor at North Carolina Central University (NCCU), where he teaches courses on Latin American literature, culture, and Spanish language. His academic work supports inclusive learning, with a focus on integrating diverse cultural perspectives into his teaching to better serve a broad student population. He also represents his department on the Faculty Senate and serves as a delegate to the UNC Faculty Assembly.

Dr. Álvarez's research is grounded in decolonial studies, particularly in the literary and cultural production of Afro-Hispanic and indigenous populations of the Andes and the Caribbean from the 19th to 21st centuries. His work explores how these communities challenge dominant societal narratives through their artistic and literary contributions. Currently, he is preparing a manuscript on these topics and has presented preliminary chapters at international conferences in France, Spain, and Canada.

He holds a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from the University of British Columbia, preceded by an M.A. in Spanish from the University of Arkansas. Prior to joining NCCU, he taught at the University of Georgia and Eastern Kentucky University, where he coordinated the Spanish program and led summer immersion programs.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Álvarez worked in secondary education and later gained international teaching experience in Mexico. He also has a background in studio art and has painted murals in various countries, including Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Georgia, and Kentucky, incorporating elements of his artistic exploration into his academic work.

Dr. Álvarez is fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese, the latter of which he studied through a fellowship at Middlebury College in 2022. He is also an active member of the community, serving on the City of Durham Human Relations Commission.

Among his many accolades, Dr. Álvarez received the 2023–2024 College Educators Research Fellowship from the UNC-Duke Consortium of Latin American and Caribbean Studies and was awarded the 2024 Excellence in Research Award from NCCU's College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences.