Gicela Medina is in the final year of her PhD in Hispanic Studies at Washington University in St. Louis (WashU), where she also earned a certificate in American Culture Studies. Her dissertation is a comparative analysis of Afro-Central American literature, focusing on works produced by Afro-Antillean and Garifuna communities in Central America, as well as by the children of migrants from these communities in the United States. Through this project, Gicela examines memory, identity, and cultural citizenship across transnational contexts.

In addition to her research, Gicela has taken on a range of administrative and leadership roles. She has worked as a graduate assistant and coordinator at the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity at WashU and she has served as the editorial assistant for the Revista de Estudios Hispánicos. Since 2022, Gicela has also been the secretary of the Afro-Latin/American Research Association (ALARA).

Gicela has also taught several Spanish courses in the Romance Languages and Literatures department, including the course Afro-Central American Literature and Culture. She has also served as a Teaching Assistant in the African and African American Studies department and taught in WashU’s College Prep Program, mentoring high school students and supporting their academic development and college access.