Dr. Mercedes Vázquez is Assistant Professor in Communication Studies at the School of International Communications with a specialization in Screen Media and Cultural Studies. Prior to working at UNNC, she taught for twenty-six years at The University of Hong Kong.

She is the author of The Question of Class in Latin American Cinemas (Lexington Books, 2018) and the “Latin American Cinema” bibliography of Oxford Bibliographies, among others. Dr. Vázquez combines her research with film curatorial practices, bringing Iberian and Latin American cinemas to the Chinese audiences on a regular basis in collaboration with governmental institutions and NGOs. 

Dr Vázquez has extensive experience in teaching and curriculum development at tertiary level. She won a Faculty Teaching Excellence Award for Academic-related Staff at HKU in 2021, and has been awarded several teaching development grants which allowed her to lead or co-lead advances in curriculum development. These include, for instance, applications of XR (extended reality) and COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) to tertiary education.

Dr. Vázquez has been advocating for gender equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) throughout her career, particularly through active participation in committees, teaching and research practices. She led a research seminar series on EDI and developed numerous knowledge exchange initiatives to benefit the general public.

Dr. Vázquez’s main research interests include Latin American, Spanish and Chinese cinemas, and the interconnections between Spanish-speaking, Lusophone, and Sinophone cultures. These include cinematic connections and intercultural communication. She has also conducted research on specific pedagogies for Chinese learners. Dr. Vázquez’s most recent research centres around audiovisual representations of migration and their reception.

• Most recent:
  •  Undergraduate:
    • Documentary and Reality INCM3047, seminars (BA in International Communications Studies) 
    • Intercultural Communication (guest lecture) 
    • Dissertation supervision
  • Postgraduate:
    • Introduction to Screen Studies INCM4117 (MA in Digital Screen Production), lecture and seminars
    • Dissertation supervision
• Teaching Specialization in General: At tertiary level, I have taught Latin American and European Cinemas and Cultures within the conventions of Film and Cultural Studies, and Spanish Language to speakers of other languages, particularly Chinese speakers. I also have experience in corporate training.