Américo Mendoza-Mori is an interdisciplinary scholar whose work bridges literary, sociolinguistic, and cultural studies, with a focus on Latin America, U.S. Latinidad, and Indigeneity. His scholarship has been published in academic journals such as PMLA, the International Journal of the Sociology of Language, LASA Forum, Harvard's ReVista, and Chiricú Journal: Latina/o Literatures, Arts, and Cultures. In addition to academic forums, his work has been presented at the United Nations and featured in public institutions and media platforms, including the Library of Congress, The New York Times, a TEDx talk, BBC, NPR, and Remezcla. He holds a B.A. from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Lima, Peru, and a Ph.D. from the University of Miami, Florida.
At St. Olaf, Mendoza-Mori plans to teach courses on the Spanish-speaking world, Latino/x/e communities in the United States, and Indigenous cultures of the Americas, with a particular emphasis on Quechua languages and cultures. His teaching highlights the connections between language, culture, and knowledges, and invites students to explore how local and global narratives shape contemporary experiences.
Mendoza-Mori currently serves as member of the Modern Language Association's (MLA) Committe on Literatures of the United States in Languages Other Than English (LOTE). He was track chair for Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendants: Epistemologies and Knowledge at the Latin American Studies Association (LASA) Congress in 2025 and was part of the Executive Committee of the Modern Language Association’s Association of Language Departments (ALD) from 2021 to 2024. Beyond the academy, he is actively involved in educational and community-based initiatives across the Andes and the United States, reflecting his commitment to accessible, community-engaged scholarship. He also participates in the advisory boards of Kuskalla Abya Yala and the Foundation for Bolivian Artists.
Mendoza-Mori has taken on innovative leadership roles: Faculty Director of Harvard's Latinx Studies Working Group, founder and coordinator of the University of Pennsylvania’s Quechua program, co-founder of The Quechua Alliance, and co-founder of the Thinking Andean Studies international conference. Additionally, he has been a cultural consultant for theater and film, including Paramount Pictures’ Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019).
And outside the classroom, Dr. Mendoza-Mori enjoys biking, playing the violin, learning languages, and exploring food spots across Minnesota.