Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Desiree W. Cueto

Dr. Cueto’s work focuses on literacy as a catalyst for both oppression and liberation, and she provides Black youth with the tools to reclaim and shape their own narratives.

1. What drives the work that you do, including your scholarship as well as any other work you'd like to highlight?  

My work is rooted in a deep commitment to ensuring Black youth, especially Black girls, see themselves reflected in the stories they read and feel empowered to tell their own. As a professor of children’s literature with West African ancestry and Black American roots, I’m deeply aware of both the legacy of literacy as liberation and the historical barriers my family faced in accessing education, even the basic right to read and write. My scholarship and community work, including mentoring Black youth at a local middle school, focus on creating affirming literacy experiences that center cultural pride, identity, and the power of storytelling.

2. What fuels your passion?  

I’m fueled by a profound sense of responsibility and love for my community. Knowing that my ancestors once fought for the right to read—and that literacy has long been a tool of both oppression and liberation—drives me to ensure Black youth have the tools to reclaim and shape their own narratives. The joy and curiosity I see in my students when they engage with texts that honor their experiences remind me of the transformative power of representation and self-expression.

3. What advice would you give your younger self?  

I’d tell my younger self (and sometimes my current self): Your voice matters. Never shrink yourself to fit spaces not built for you—because you are here to expand them. The stories you carry and the communities you represent are sources of power, not limitations. Keep leaning into your curiosity, keep asking questions, and trust that you belong in every room where decisions are being made.
 

Learn more about Dr. Cueto and her work on African Mythology and Black Mermaids