María Luisa Ortega Hernández, PhD

Nicaraguan-born Spaniard; U.S. Latina. Her criolla identity has always placed her as "the Other." This life in the margins—not chosen but internalized and embraced—has allowed her to grow in solidarity with the most vulnerable in society.

Rooted in mystical beauty and human rights, María Luisa's poetic voice illuminates spaces closed to reason, filtering in words of love, light, and hope. Her doctoral dissertation (University of Pennsylvania, 2002) speaks of her scholarly interest: the systemic institutionalization of Latina/​Hispanic/​Spanish female sanctity through hagiography and ekphrastic art.

As an educator with more than twenty years of experience, Dr. Ortega Hernández believes that the study of words empowers student and teacher to delve into a deeper understanding of human thought and personal identity, rendering the possibility of individual and social change. Her creative and scholarly work shares in her mission to educate in equity, inspire in beauty, and uplift in hope.