Américo Mendoza–Mori teaches Quechua and Spanish at the University of Pennsylvania, where he designed the Quechua Language Program. He received his B.A. in Literature from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, in Lima (Peru), and completed a Ph.D. in Literary, Cultural and Linguistic studies at the University of Miami, Florida. His research focuses on Andean Culture, Quechua language, and cultural policies.
Dr. Mendoza-Mori’s work has appeared in a variety of academic publications, has been presented at the United Nations, and has been featured in The New York Times, a TEDx talk, NPR, Remezcla. He has collaborated actively with academic and community-based organizations in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and the United States. | Quechua Language Program Coordinator, Faculty (pronouns: he/him, él, pay)
Personal Page: Selected works
Education:
B.A., Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Perú)
Latin American Literature
Ph.D., University of Miami
Literature, Cultural and Linguistic Studies
Research and Teaching interests:
Latin American and Latinx Studies, Quechua language and culture, Cultural policies, Language planning, Indigenous cultures and migration
Scholarly Publications:
- Mendoza-Mori, A. “Lenguas y culturas originarias en la construcción de identidades: las oportunidades del Quechua” in Osiris A. Gómez, Sara Poot Herrera, Francisco A. Lomelí (eds.) Caleidoscopio verbal: lenguas y literaturas originarias. México (2020): Oro de la Noche Ediciones, pp. 32-39
- Mendoza-Mori, Américo. “Quechua Language programs in the United States: Cultural hubs for Indigenous cultures”, Chiricú Journal: Latino Literatures, Arts and Cultures, v.2 (Spring 2017)
- Mendoza-Mori, Américo. Book review of José Carlos Rovira & Eva Valero Juan’s “Mito, palabra e historia en la tradición literaria latinoamericana”, Revista de Crítica Literaria Latinoamericana. XLI, 82 (2015): 383-4.
- Liendo, Laura and Américo Mendoza-Mori (editors). Panel A-L: Reflexiones sobre literatura y discursos de América Latina. Lima (2011): Red Literaria Peruana
- Mendoza-Mori, Américo. “¿Es el mismo Inca? Figura del Inca en la Nueva Corónica de Guamán Poma de Ayala y Los Comentarios Reales de Garcilaso de la Vega” Actas del Congreso ‘Las Palabras de Garcilaso’. Lima (2010): OEI Organización de Estados Iberoamericanos, Academia Peruana de la Lengua
Awards and Honors:
- 2020 Learning and Teaching priorities grant by National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations
- 2019 Sachs Foundation grant for Arts innovation.
- 2019 Fulbright FLTA Hosting institution for Penn’s Quechua program.
- 2017 – SAS Teaching Innovation Grant, University of Pennsylvania
- 2017-18 Latin American and Latino Studies External Speaker Series grant, University of Pennsylvania
- 2015 – SAS Teaching Innovation Grant, University of Pennsylvania
- 2013 – Research Fellow, University of Miami Center for Latin American Studies
- 2009 – University of Miami Presidential Fellowship
Languages:
English, Portuguese, Quechua, Spanish
Media Interviews and Citations:
- “Peru’s Queen of Quechua Rap wants to rescue Indigenous culture with her music” by The New York Times, April 28th, 2020: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/28/world/americas/peru-indigenous-rap-renata-flores.html
- [radio/podcast] “The Legacy of Dora the Explorer” by NPR’s LatinoUSA, August 14th, 2019 https://www.npr.org/2019/08/14/751130403/the-breakdown-the-legacy-of-dora-the-explorer
- [interview] “Paramount Pictures hired this Quechua professor to lend authenticity to ‘Dora and the Lost city of Gold’” by Remezcla, August 13th, 2019 https://remezcla.com/features/film/interview-americo-mendoza-mori-dora-lost-city-gold-quechua/
- [article & video] “Thriving program makes Penn a Quechua language hub” by Penn Current, November 10th https://penncurrent.upenn.edu/news/thriving-program-makes-penn-a-quechua-language-hub
- “Quechua classes give students a look into Indigenous culture” by The Daily Pennsylvanian, September 29th http://www.thedp.com/article/2016/09/quechua-classes-indigenous-culture
- [interview] “This professor wants to dispel the myth that Indigenous Languages are a thing of the past” Interview by Remezcla (USA), September 19th http://remezcla.com/features/culture/this-quechua-professor-wants-to-dispel-the-myth-that-indigenous-languages-are-a-thing-of-the-past/
- “College students from around the US are gathering to celebrate Quechua language and culture” By Remezcla (USA), November 13, 2015: http://remezcla.com/features/college-students-from-around-the-u-s-are-gathering-to-celebrate-quechua-language-culture/
- “Voces y sonidos del Encuentro de Quechua” by Ariel Goodman, November https://soundcloud.com/aegoodma/quechuaalliance-voces-y-sonidos-del-conferencia-de-quechua-111415
- [interview] “Quechua: norteamericanos se interesan por aprender lengua” Interview by Diario Correo (Perú), July 26th: http://diariocorreo.pe/ciudad/quechua-norteamericanos-se-interesan-por-aprender-lengua-605198/
- “Online Challenges to Save Indigenous Languages in the Americas” by Indian Country Today Media Network, May 29th http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/05/29/online-challenges-save-indigenous-languages-americas-160531
Videos:
- United Nations Headquarters, NY: 9th anniversary of the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – Press Conference, September 13th, 2016:
Courses taught at Penn
QUEC 110 – Beginning Quechua and Andean Culture I
QUEC 120 – Beginning Quechua II
QUEC 130 – Intermediate Quechua I
QUEC 140 – Intermediate Quechua II
SPA 110 – Beginning Spanish I
SPA 120 – Beginning Spanish II
SPA 121 – Accelerated Beginning Spanish
SPA 130 – Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 140 – Intermediate Spanish II