Laura Mellem

Laura received her B.A. in Critical Theory and Social Justice with a minor in English and Comparative Literary Studies from Occidental College in Los Angeles and has since called New Orleans home. Exploring the relationship between race, gender, biomedicine, and the role of the State, Laura's undergraduate thesis examined histories of population control in the Americas. Her time in New Orleans post-graduation has been spent working with neighborhood development organizations on issues ranging from hurricane recovery and revitalization to access to technology and wellness programs. At the Stone Center, Laura pursued her M.A. with research interests including women's Caribbean diaspora literature, themes of 'motherhood' and 'motherland,' and transnational identity formation. Laura earned her M.A. in Latin American Studies from Tulane in May 2014.