Dr. Cecily Bernard
Director
Dr. Cecily Bernard, born in Georgetown, Guyana, is an acclaimed scholar in Afro-Latin American literature and international relations, with a commitment to advancing cross-cultural understanding and language education.
Dr. Bernard’s academic foundation includes French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian, leading to a Licentiate Teacher’s Degree in Brazilian Language and Literature from the Federal University of Pará, Brazil. She earned an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Brasilia, focusing on Guyana’s role in the global context. Recently, she completed her Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies and Portuguese at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she also taught Spanish and published research on interculturality and globalization.
Her dissertation, Transnational Discourses, Global Entanglements: Afro-Latin American and Caribbean Literary and Cultural Production, examines how Afro-descendant authors from Latin America and the Caribbean contribute to world literature. Dr. Bernard’s career includes service as a Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Guyana and as Research and Protocol Officer at CARICOM. These roles, alongside her establishment of a private language institute in Guyana, have enabled her to offer translation, interpretation, and language instruction services to government bodies and international organizations.
Dr. Bernard’s linguistic proficiency extends to Dutch, reflecting her dedication to bridging linguistic and cultural divides. Her scholarly interests encompass Latin American and Caribbean literature, African Diasporic Studies, and Global Studies. Through her research and teaching, Dr. Bernard continues to be a vital contributor to global conversations on culture and identity.
Dr. Cecily Bernard
Director
Dr. Cecily Bernard, born in Georgetown, Guyana, is an acclaimed scholar in Afro-Latin American literature and international relations, with a commitment to advancing cross-cultural understanding and language education.
Dr. Bernard’s academic foundation includes French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian, leading to a Licentiate Teacher’s Degree in Brazilian Language and Literature from the Federal University of Pará, Brazil. She earned an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Brasilia, focusing on Guyana’s role in the global context. Recently, she completed her Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies and Portuguese at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she also taught Spanish and published research on interculturality and globalization.
Her dissertation, Transnational Discourses, Global Entanglements: Afro-Latin American and Caribbean Literary and Cultural Production, examines how Afro-descendant authors from Latin America and the Caribbean contribute to world literature. Dr. Bernard’s career includes service as a Foreign Service Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Guyana and as Research and Protocol Officer at CARICOM. These roles, alongside her establishment of a private language institute in Guyana, have enabled her to offer translation, interpretation, and language instruction services to government bodies and international organizations.
Dr. Bernard’s linguistic proficiency extends to Dutch, reflecting her dedication to bridging linguistic and cultural divides. Her scholarly interests encompass Latin American and Caribbean literature, African Diasporic Studies, and Global Studies. Through her research and teaching, Dr. Bernard continues to be a vital contributor to global conversations on culture and identity.