DOROTHY BELL FERRER
Summary
Passionate higher education instructor, creative writer and workshop facilitator currently finishing doctoral thesis at the University of Puerto Rico. Dynamic educator committed to developing multidisciplinary courses which enhance student reading comprehension and critical thinking at the Universidad de Sagrado Corazón and at City College of New York (CCNY-CUNY). I founded and direct Sanarrando which provides workshops that foment narrative writing in Latin America and Latino communities in the U.S. 11 years of experience as a collaborative writer, in 2022 I published my first novel, El trasero grande de la muerte which received an Honorable Mention in the Novel Competition Award via PEN Club International Puerto Rico. I currently have a digital project called "La sandunga que se repite" which explores Caribbean feminine motifs through narrative writing and cultural analysis. I have presented my academic research and creative work in several countries including Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Spain and the United States.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Professor
City College New York- CCNY CUNY
08.2023 - Current
- Complete development of a multidisciplinary course about Cuban literature, society, history and its relationship to Afro Caribbean identity.
- Complete development of a multidisciplinary course about Dominican literature, society, history and identity
- Mentorship for undergraduate students
- Coordination of Writing Workshops and other activities which foment the student's experience in the course
- Incorporation of visual arts and other fieldwork activities
- Created dynamic learning environment that valued instructor and student interaction.
Artist Researcher
Beta-Local
09.2022 - Current
- Formal documentation of the artistic trajectory of the Puerto Rican musician Hector Ramirez
- Coordination of interviews
- Formal analysis of the compositions of Ramirez
- Choreography and coordination of activities
- Author and editor of the documentation of Ramirez's career for the cultural archives of Puerto Rico
Professor
Universidad De Sagrado Corazón
01.2022 - Current
- Coordination of courses that enhance undergraduate student writing and composition and reading comprehension
- Elaboration of discussions about society and its relation to literature
- Enhanced student understanding by offerring personal mentorship
Reading and Writing Workshop Coordinator
Sanarrando/La Tinta Es Negra Como Mi Piel
03.2017 - Current
- Facilitates and coordinates dynamic workshops to foment the literary production in Puerto Rico
- Incorporates relevant cultural and social elements to make the workshops an effective experience at both the personal and the collective level
- Consistently provides workshops based on the participant needs and interests so that they are able to continue to learn to create organized narratives and comprehend important literary texts
Folkloric Dancer
Hermanos Ayala Ballet Company, Independent
01.2016 - Current
- From 2016 to 2018 I was contracted as a main dancer for one of the most important folkloric dance groups in Puerto Rico
- Demonstrated consistency as I attended all rehearsals and performances which I was contracted for by the Hermanos Ayala Ballet Company
- Developed strong relationships between the folkloric traditions of Loiza and the choreography as I studied the history of the movements to better incorporate them in performances
- Currently still working as a contracted dancer for a movie set to be released in 2026 Nenen de la tierra
Writer
Independent
06.2013 - Current
- Developed skills as an acclaimed novelist, research essayist and arts, literary and cultural critic
- Collaborated with various international magazines and newspapers
- Coordination of the digital space called La sandunga que se repite which explores Caribbean writing and culture
- Demonstrated great research skills as a writer hired to analyze art exhibitions
Translation and Interpretation
University of Chicago
07.2024 - 08.2024
- Used my developed interpersonal communication skills to serve as a translator for academic researchers from the University of Chicago who came to Puerto Rico to conduct intensive fieldwork
- Facilitated and coordinated conversations and discussion forums between Puerto Rican activists, historians, sociologists and anthropologists for the University of Chicago researchers
Consulting Collaborator
University of Puerto Rico
01.2024 - 07.2024
- Planned immersive study abroad experiences for students who came from the United States to Puerto Rico for fieldwork for the Interdisciplinary and Multicultural Institute of the University of Puerto Rico
- Coordinated creative and innovative outings and trips for the student participants and faculty
- Coordinated the room and board, transportation and meal plan for the students
- Created meaningful relationships between local Puerto Rican organizations, the University of Puerto Rico and the students and faculty from universities in the U.S.
- Coordinated translation and interpretative services for students who were not proficient in Spanish
Assistant Program Coordinator
Esperanza Inc.
06.2013 - 08.2014
- Supported the planning of activities for students coming from migrant and immigrant families to acclimate them to the professional setting
- Volunteered at various grassroots organizations to teach student participants how to become active within their communities
- Scheduled events and served as a Spanish-English translator for students and adults
Education
Ph.D. - Spanish-American Literature
University of Puerto Rico
Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico05-2026
Master of Arts - Spanish And Spanish American Literature
University of Puerto Rico
Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico05-2020
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio06-2016
Skills
- Research analysis and presentation
- Diversity sensitivity and awareness
- Language interpretation (Spanish-English)
- Online Teaching (Blackboard, Canva, Moodle)
- Literacy strategies
- University and Community course design
- Advanced: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, SPSS
- Group and Individual Projects
Additional Information
Universidad de La Laguna- Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain- September 2024
III Congreso Internacional de Investigación Teatral y Muestra Escénica
"El lado lógico del absurdo: Autoridad estatal e inteligencia corporal en tres obras de teatro de José Triana"
Latin American Studies Association- Bogotá, Colombia- June 2024
Roundtable Discussion on the documentary Todas las flores
"Todas las flores arrancadas vuelven a ser tierra fértil para sembrar más flores"
University of Puerto Rico- Mayaguez, Puerto Rico- March 2024
The Youth Against Racism
"La sandunga que se repite o el trauma colectivo?"
Asociación Mexicana de Estudios del Caribe-Mexico City- November 2023
Annual Caribbean Literary Fair
"Aquello sin nombre entre la vida y la muerte: Análisis del libro La revolución de las apetencias: El trafico de
muertos en la literatura puertorriqueña contemporánea
University of Puerto Rico- Mayaguez, Puerto Rico- March 2023
Celebration of the Abolishment of Slavery in Puerto Rico
"Abolición y discurso académico"
University of Puerto Rico- Rio Piedras, San Juan, Puerto Rico- March 2023
La Cumbre Afro
Formal presentation of El trasero grande de la muerte and discussion about contemporary Caribbean literature
Latin American Studies Association Puerto Rico- San Juan, Puerto Rico- March 2023
Panel Discussion on Racial Ambiguity
"Subversión femenina en La cuarterona de Alejandro Tapia y de Guzmán de Alfarache
de Mateo Alemán.
Feria del Libro de La Habana- Havana, Cuba- February 2023
Formal presentations of the novel El trasero grande de la muerte:
El Pabellón de Cuba, Casa Cultural Dulce María Loynaz, Centro Onelio Jorge Cardoso, La Casa de la Poesía
Formal presentations about Puerto Rican literature and education crisis
Latin American Studies Association- Montreal, Canada- May 2021
Moderator: Contrapuntos de una educación antirracista postpandemia: epistemologías, intersecciones y experiencias afrodiaspóricas
Centro Cultural Fernando Ortiz- Santiago de Cuba, Cuba- April 2020
"Narrativas, naarradores y narraciones de la mulatez en Cuba y Puerto Rico"
Escuela de Afrodescendencia- Havana, Cuba- July 2018
Student Researcher Participant
University of Ghana- Accra, Ghana- June 2018
"El complejo de Ifá y los discursos de raza en Puerto Rico: desafíosy contradicciones"
Depaul University- Chicago, Illinois- April 2018
"Creative Writing as Agency in Colonial Puerto Rico"
Brooklyn College- Brooklyn, New York- October 2017
"Literature, Urbanism and Identity for Afro Caribbeans"
Williams College- Williamstown, Massachusetts- October 2017
"Race and Capitalism in post Hurricane María Puerto Rico"
Corporación Piñones Se Integra- Loíza, Puerto Rico- October 2016
"The myth of mestizaje that promotes racism in Puerto Rico"
Depauw University- Greencastle, Indiana- November 2015
"How to offer solidarity when you need solidarity- Latina feminist healing circle"
NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS
- "El apuro de llamarse académica negra"- Ochenta Grados Magazine 2024
- El trasero grande de la muerte, novel published by La Secta de los Perros 2022
- “Bad Bunny, Borges y el arte de la incomprensión” -Ochenta Grados Magazine 2022
- El margen del criollismo: las primeras abolicionistas cubanas y puertorriqueñas: La producción
de espacio en La cuarterona de Alejandro Tapia y Rivera y Petrona y Rosalía de Félix Tanco y
Bosmeniel- Master's Thesis University of Puerto Rico - “Gracias a la tierra que el mar no nos suelta”- Anthology Proyecto Azul 2020
- “Resistiendo Chianita y el “ay bendito”: El trabajo antirracista es clave para un mejor Puerto
Rico” – MiJente Magazine 2018
Languages
Spanish
Native language
English
Proficient
C2
French
Intermediate
B1
Professional References
Dr. Juan Otero-Garabis- Doctoral Thesis Director- juan.otero1@upr.edu
Dr. Sherrie Baver- CCNY Supervisor- sbaver@ccny.cuny.edu
Dr. Norma Fuentes Mayorga- CCNY Supervisor-nfuentes@ccny.cuny.edu
Novel and Creative Writing Presentations
The Dominican Women's Center- Manhattan, New York
Cultural Art Space- Caguas, Puerto Rico
Pensar Africa Cultural Space- Santurce, Puerto Rico
El Hangar Cultural Center- Santurce, Puerto Rico
La Casa de los Contrafuertes- San Juan, Puerto Rico
Centro Cultural de Cartagena- Cartagena, Colombia
El Nido de Libros- Barranquilla, Colombia
Entre Nosotras Literary Group- Bogotá, Colombia
Universidad del Arte- Guayaquil, Ecuador
Mamaroja Group- San Andrés, Colombia
Taller Comunidad La Goyco- Santurce, Puerto Rico
Timeline
Translation and Interpretation
University of Chicago
07.2024 - 08.2024
Consulting Collaborator
University of Puerto Rico
01.2024 - 07.2024
Professor
City College New York- CCNY CUNY
08.2023 - Current
Artist Researcher
Beta-Local
09.2022 - Current
Professor
Universidad De Sagrado Corazón
01.2022 - Current
Reading and Writing Workshop Coordinator
Sanarrando/La Tinta Es Negra Como Mi Piel
03.2017 - Current
Folkloric Dancer
Hermanos Ayala Ballet Company, Independent
01.2016 - Current
Writer
Independent
06.2013 - Current
Assistant Program Coordinator
Esperanza Inc.
06.2013 - 08.2014
Ph.D. - Spanish-American Literature
University of Puerto Rico
Master of Arts - Spanish And Spanish American Literature
University of Puerto Rico
Bachelor of Arts - Political Science
Kent State University
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