#  Mayra Rivera 

Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Religion and Latinx Studies

 

 

 



   ![Mayra Rivera](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/styles/hwp_4_5__480x600/public/hds2/files/mayra-rivera-180x220.jpg?itok=xGFgc7DB) 

 



 

 location\_on Divinity 405 

 



 

## On leave

Spring 2025, Fall 2025

## Education

- BS ChE, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez
- MTS, PhD, Drew University

## Profile

Mayra Rivera is Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Religion and Latinx Studies at Harvard University. Rivera works at the intersections between philosophy of religion, literature, and theories of coloniality, race and gender—with particular attention to Caribbean postcolonial thought.

Her research explores the relationship between discursive and material dimensions of existence in shaping human embodiment and socio-material ecologies. Her most recent book, [Poetics of the Flesh](https://www.dukeupress.edu/Poetics-of-the-Flesh/?viewby=title) (2015), analyzes theological, philosophical, and political descriptions of “flesh” as metaphors for understanding how social discourses materialize in human bodies. Her book, [The Touch of Transcendence](https://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/Default.aspx?bookid=0664230733) (2007), explores the relationship between models of divine otherness and ideas about interhuman difference. She is also co-editor, with Stephen Moore, of [Planetary Loves: Spivak, Postcoloniality, and Theology](https://www.fordhampress.com/9780823233267/planetary-loves/) (2010) and, with Catherine Keller and Michael Nausner, of [Postcolonial Theologies: Divinity and Empire](https://www.chalicepress.com/Postcolonial-Theologies-P85.aspx) (2004).

Rivera is currently working on a project that explores the relationships between coloniality and ecological thought through Caribbean thought.

[Full CV](/sites/g/files/omnuum5526/files/hds2/files/cv_mayra_rivera-2023-may.pdf "Mayra Rivera Curriculum Vitae.pdf") (PDF)

## Courses

View [HDS courses taught by Mayra Rivera](https://courses.my.harvard.edu/psp/courses/EMPLOYEE/EMPL/h/?tab=HU_CLASS_SEARCH&SearchReqJSON=%7B%22ExcludeBracketed%22:true,%22Exclude300%22:false,%22SaveRecent%22:true,%22Facets%22:%5B%5D,%22PageNumber%22:1,%22SortOrder%22:%5B%22SCORE%22%5D,%22TopN%22:%22%22,%22PageSize%22:%22%22,%22SearchText%22:%22(%20Mayra%20Rivera%20)%20(ACAD_CAREER:%5C%22HDS%5C%22)%22%7D) in the my.harvard Course Search.

Also view [FAS courses taught by Mayra Rivera](https://courses.my.harvard.edu/psp/courses/EMPLOYEE/EMPL/h/?tab=HU_CLASS_SEARCH&SearchReqJSON=%7B%22PageNumber%22:1,%22PageSize%22:%22%22,%22SortOrder%22:%5B%22IS_SCL_SUBJ_CAT%22%5D,%22Facets%22:%5B%5D,%22Category%22:%22HU_SCL_SCHEDULED_BRACKETED_COURSES%22,%22SearchPropertiesInResults%22:true,%22FacetsInResults%22:true,%22SaveRecent%22:true,%22TopN%22:%22%22,%22SearchText%22:%22(IS_SCL_DESCR_IS_SCL_DESCRL:%5C%22Mayra%20Rivera%5C%22)%20(ACAD_CAREER:%5C%22FAS%5C%22)%22%7D). (HDS students: for jointly offered and reading and research courses, please enroll in the HDS version of the course.)

[All Harvard courses](https://courses.my.harvard.edu)

## Selected publications

- [*Poetics of the Flesh*](https://www.dukeupress.edu/Poetics-of-the-Flesh/?viewby=title) (Duke University, 2015)
- [*Planetary Loves: Spivak, Postcoloniality, and Theology*](https://www.fordhampress.com/9780823233267/planetary-loves/) (Fordham University, 2010)
- [*The Touch of Transcendence: A Postcolonial Theology of God*](https://www.wjkbooks.com/Products/Default.aspx?bookid=0664230733) (Westminster John Knox Press, 2007)
- [*Postcolonial Theologies: Divinity and Empire*](https://www.chalicepress.com/Postcolonial-Theologies-P85.aspx) (Chalice Press, 2004)

## See also

- [Mayra Rivera's website](https://mayrarivera.scholars.harvard.edu/)
- [Harvard University Latinx Studies Working Group](https://emr.fas.harvard.edu/latinx-studies-working-group)

## Support

To reach Harvard Divinity School's faculty coordinators, email [div-faculty\_coordinators@calists.harvard.edu](mailto:div-faculty_coordinators@calists.harvard.edu).

For media inquiries or requests, please [contact Tyler Sprouse](mailto:tsprouse@hds.harvard.edu) in the Office of Communications.



 

 

 





 

 

- ## Affiliation
    
     [Faculty](/affiliation/faculty)
- ## Alpha Grouping
    
     [P-T](/alpha-grouping/p-t)
- ## Faculty Type
    
     [Faculty of Divinity](/faculty-type/faculty-divinity)
- ## Media Expertise
    
     [Colonialism and Postcolonialism](/media-expertise/colonialism-and-postcolonialism) [Gender and Sexuality](/media-expertise/gender-and-sexuality) [Latin America](/media-expertise/latin-america)