Education
- Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- M.A. in Hispanic & Lusophone Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
- B.A. in Portuguese Language and Literature, Beijing Foreign Studies University, China
Courses
- Toni Morrison in Dialogue(s): Identity/ies, Language(s), and Love
- Writing AND/AS Translation
- Dialogic Engagement and Readings of Literature
- American Ethnic Literature: Multilingualism and Politics of the Ineffable Tropes
- Introduction to African American Literature: What is African American Literature
- Writing World Literatures
- Composing Research
- Intermediate Portuguese
- Portuguese for Spanish Speakers
Teaching Experience
- Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of English, Ball State University, 2022- 2023
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 2016-2022
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2012-2015
Biography
Xiaoxi Zhang is a dedicated scholar and educator with a passion for Comparative Literature and World Literatures. She earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Michigan, where she also obtained Graduate Certificates in World Performance Studies and African Studies. Xiaoxi’s research interests encompass Critical Translation Studies, Postcolonialism, Global Black Studies, and Indigenous American Literature, reflecting her commitment to diverse and intersectional perspectives in literary analysis. Her dissertation project, “Decentering Modern Language(s): The Case of Chinese, Portuguese, and Swahili,” exemplifies her multidisciplinary approach to literature.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Xiaoxi Zhang has a strong teaching background. Prior to joining Habib University, she served as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of English at Ball State University, where she instructs courses such as “Composing Research”, “Introduction to African American Literature”, and “American Ethnic Literature”. Her teaching portfolio includes various literature and writing courses, showcasing her versatility and dedication to fostering critical thinking and dialogue among students.
Xiaoxi Zhang is also an accomplished scholar with a list of publications and translations in reputable journals. Her research contributions explore topics ranging from translation activism in African literature to the construction of new forms of solidarity through translation. Her dedication to bridging gaps between languages and cultures is evident in her ongoing translation projects.
Xiaoxi Zhang’s extensive professional experience, community service, and commitment to linguistic diversity make her a valuable asset to the field of Comparative Literature and academia as a whole.
Publications
- “Introduction” (co-authored with Frieda Ekotto and Imani CooperMkandawire) Absinthe: A Journal of World Literature in Translation, Vol. 24. (http://hdl.handle.net/2027/spo.13469760.0026.102)
- “Beyond Representation and Translation: Intellectual Activism and the Language Question in African Literature” The International Journal of African Studies, Vol. 1, No. 3. (https://www.svedbergopen.com/files/1634727812_(4)_IJAFRS13052021860K_(p_41 – 61).pdf)
- “Untranslating Translation: Toward the Construction of a New Form of Solidarity” The Text, Vol. 4, No. 1. (http://thetextjournal.com/text_admin/issue/90551-1-xitjournal.com)
- “The Life and Work of Paulina Chiziane” On African Writers (“Feizhou Zuojia Lun”), Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press. (forthcoming)
