Alicia Wyneken

Alicia Wyneken, Ph.D (c) is a scholar, writer, artist, and educator whose work bridges cultural studies, creative practice, and social advocacy. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Cultural Studies and an Art M.F.A. student at Claremont Graduate University in California. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing (Poetry and Literature) from Antioch University, Los Angeles, and an M.S. in Psychology.

Her work is deeply rooted in both academic inquiry and community engagement. Alicia served recently as a consultant for the Foster Kinship program at Antelope Valley College in Palmdale, and remains a dedicated advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. As an adoptive parent of four children from the foster care system, her advocacy is both professional and deeply personal.

Alicia’s research explores foster youth, Latina/x/o identity, Latinidad, Afro-Latinidad, women in marginalized spaces and the intersections of identity, belonging, and community. With lived and cultural connections to Nice, France, and Martinique, her work reflects a global perspective shaped by diverse cultural landscapes.

Her creative writing, essays, and poetry have been published in both the United States and the United Kingdom. During her undergraduate studies, she revived and edited Ice Box, a literary journal at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, which continues to thrive today. She has been recognized for academic excellence and has presented her work at international, national and regional conferences, including at the Caribbean Studies International Conference, the Pacific Sociology Conference, and the Equity Conference.

Alicia has extensive teaching experience in both undergraduate and graduate settings, teaching courses in English, French, and Psychology, including Diverse Populations and Research Methods.

Her work is guided by a transdisciplinary approach that connects research, creativity, and lived experience, all with the goal of advancing equity and improving the lives of marginalized communities.