Before transitioning to executive leadership and global strategy in higher education, I spent over a decade as a tenured professor and academic leader at Arizona State University. During that time, I taught a wide range of graduate and undergraduate courses in Spanish and Latin American literature, culture, and language, while mentoring students across all academic levels.
My teaching was guided by a commitment to intellectual rigor, cultural understanding, and student success — with an emphasis on critical thinking, global perspectives, and research-based inquiry. I also served as Director of Graduate Studies and Department Chair, developing curricula, mentoring junior faculty, and leading academic initiatives.
I remain proud of the many students whose academic and professional trajectories I had the privilege to help shape.
Graduate Courses Taught (MA & Ph.D.)
Topics included: Rubén Darío and Modernismo, Spanish and Latin American poetry, transatlantic literary movements, vanguardism and cultural aesthetics, and human rights in literature.
Representative courses include:
SPA 691 Doctoral Seminar: Life and Works of Rubén Darío
SPA 680 Spanish Modernism and the Idea of 1898
SPA 577 Transatlantic Literature
SPA 574 Latin American Vanguardist Poetry
SPA 555 Spanish American Modernism
SPA 576 Latin American Short Story
SPA 557 Contemporary Spanish American Poetry
SPA 536 The Generation of 1927
Undergraduate Courses Taught
From introductory Spanish language to advanced seminars in literature, civilization, and honors research.
Representative courses include:
SPA 473 Culture and Civilization of Spain
SPA 472 Latin American Culture and Civilization
SPA 428 Modern & Contemporary Latin American Literature
SPA 426 Modern & Contemporary Spanish Literature
SPA 325 Introduction to Hispanic Literature
SPA 413 Spanish Grammar
SPA 101–314 Spanish Language Sequence
Thesis & Dissertation Advising
Directed more than 10 Ph.D. Dissertations and 10+ MA Theses. Topics ranged from visual poetry and Latin American vanguardism to human rights literature, transatlantic aesthetics, and poetic modernism. I also advised students who went on to successful careers in academia and publishing, some of whom are now teaching at Ivy League universities and Research 1 institutions.
Committee Memberships
Active member of more than 40 doctoral and master’s committees, contributing to graduate student success in literature, linguistics, cultural studies, and related fields. I also served as external reader and internal evaluator for dissertations across multiple academic departments.
Honors & Undergraduate Mentoring
Supervised numerous undergraduate honors theses and applied research projects through Barrett Honors College, the W.P. Carey School of Business, and the Cronkite School of Journalism. Topics included translation, Catalan modernism, Andean mythology, and Latin American economics and media.
Visiting Appointments
Visiting Scholar, University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA, USA), Fall 2012.
Visiting Scholar and Director, Universidad Internacional Menández y Pelayo (Santander, Spain), Summer 2008
Visiting Scholar and Director, Universidad de Alicante (Alicante, Spain), Spring 2001.
Honors and Awards in Teaching and Mentorship
Recognitions include:
Distinguished Nominee, ASU President’s Professor Award (2005 and 2012)
Nominee, ASU Parents Association Professor of the Year (2005)
Recipient, Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Georgia (1992)
Recipient, International Rubén Darío Research Award (2005), among others.
Academic Leadership and Service
Held roles at multiple levels shaping policy, curriculum, and faculty governance:
Member, ASU Provost’s Executive Committee
President, Faculty Senate of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Chair, Graduate Committee, Personnel Committee, Executive Committee
Chair, multiple strategic faculty search committees
Advisor, Hispanic Graduate Students Association and Sigma Delta Pi
Other Service and Contributions to the University
Honors Disciplinary Faculty, Barrett Honors College, ASU (2006–12)
Founder and Director, ASU Semester Study Abroad Program at the University of Alicante, Spain
Participant in global engagement initiatives, alumni events, research clusters, and new faculty orientations
Served on graduate examination boards across disciplines
Led study abroad and curriculum efforts at Radford University
Active contributor to faculty mentoring, student advising, and academic development at the University of Georgia
You can also see my academic research here.
Student Testimonials from Arizona State University and Radford University
“Dr. Acereda’s classes were coveted for a reason—his collaborative teaching style, depth of knowledge, and sense of humor made even the most difficult coursework enjoyable and rewarding. I always walked away not just more informed, but truly transformed. I count myself fortunate to have been one of his students.”
— Amy Goodman, Former Undergraduate Student at ASU
“Dr. Acereda’s passion for Hispanic culture and literature was truly contagious. He had a genuine ability to motivate students, capture their attention, and present material in a way that made us want to learn more. Without a doubt, he was one of the best professors I had during my time at Radford University.”
— Ruben Guallar, Former Undergraduate Student at Radford University
“As my professor, dissertation advisor, and mentor at ASU, Dr. Acereda played a vital role in shaping my teaching and professional development. His devotion to students’ intellectual growth, his publication record, and his personal integrity make him a role model in every sense—as a scholar, educator, and leader.”
— Patricia Gabriela Nuriel, Former Ph.D. Student at ASU
“Dr. Acereda was one of the finest literature professors I had in my entire academic career. His mastery of both Hispanic American and Spanish literature, along with his ability to place every text in its historical and global context, made his classes both rigorous and inspiring. I am proud to have learned from him.”
— Caridad Rodríguez, Former Ph.D. Student and Teaching Associate at ASU
“Out of all my professors at ASU, Dr. Acereda had the most profound and positive impact on me—both as a student and a young adult. His classes were thought-provoking, informative, and inspiring. Through his leadership, I was fortunate to take part in the study abroad program in Alicante, Spain—an experience that changed my life and broadened my global perspective.”
— Travis Pacheco, Former Undergraduate Student at ASU
“I had the privilege of taking Dr. Acereda’s Advanced Spanish Grammar class as a senior at ASU. Having taught grammar myself, I was amazed by how engaging and inspiring he made the material. He also played a key role in strengthening the Spanish program and was deeply respected by fellow faculty. Even after all these years, he remains one of the great professors who left a lasting mark on my academic journey.”
— Tiffany Hardy, Former Undergraduate Student at ASU
👉 Read more student and colleague recommendations on my LinkedIn profile.
