Dr. Alexander Steffanell recently released his fourth book, “Cosmogonies and Ancestral Spirituality in Abya Yala,” published by Ediciones La Paz. The book is presented bilingually in English and Spanish and was translated by Timothy Bideshi and Megan Rogers, both Lee alumni, along with Tahiana Larissa Tacahashi.
 
Inspired by his Latin American heritage and cross-cultural experiences, the book is a compilation of legends, myths, and stories Steffanell collected from tribes and Indigenous communities throughout his travels. It explores perspectives often overlooked in Western thought, with particular attention to African influence in Latin America.
 
“What surprised me when I began teaching was how American college students do not understand perspectives from other parts of the world,” said Steffanell, professor of Spanish in Lee’s Department of Language & Literature. “Through our department, we are trying to bridge these gaps of thought through classes, writings, and the cross-cultural trips that we offer to our students. I was inspired to write this book for my students, as they are often eager to hear of my travels, giving me an opportunity to help them learn from these other cultures and understand ‘the Other’ as part of God’s creation.”
 
“Cosmogonies and Ancestral Spirituality in Abya Yala” was funded through the Appalachian College Association (ACA) Summer Research Fellowship for 2022–23. Spanish major Dursun Asik served as a research assistant, organizing Steffanell’s collected data.
 
“The funding provided by the ACA has resulted in tangible outcomes, allowing me to make meaningful connections with a diverse community overseas,” said Steffanell. “I have observed significant challenges these communities face in preserving their cultural heritage and ancestral wisdom. With this support, I have been able to build bridges of connection and expand the interconnectivity and intersectionality we share as human beings.”
 

Originally from Colombia, South America, Steffanell joined Lee’s faculty in 2007. He specializes in Latin American literature, Spanish language instruction, and the integration of critical thinking into world language curricula. His research examines pedagogical approaches to foreign language education, Latin American Indigenous communities, and the African diaspora in Latin America. He has published extensively in academic journals on educational innovation, teacher development, and quality enhancement in Spanish language teaching.
 
In addition to authoring four books on Latin American spirituality and culture, he is an international speaker across Latin America, Europe, and Africa. He completed a postdoctoral certification in Foreign Language Education with an emphasis on intercultural competence in 2024 and has received Lee University’s Janet Rahamut Award, as well as the university’s Excellence in Scholarship Award.
 
Steffanell is currently working on a fifth book that will expand on the ideas presented in “Cosmogonies and Ancestral Spirituality in Abya Yala.” The next installment will examine the impact of African cultures in Latin America and their influence on global literature and knowledge traditions.

The mission of the Appalachian College Association is to serve Appalachian communities through the transformational work of its faculty, staff, and students. Programs offered by the association are designed to promote cooperation and collaboration among member institutions and to support scholarly and creative activities of faculty and students. The ACA’s Faculty Fellowship Program offers financial support to member institutions’ faculty for postdoctoral research or predoctoral degree completion.

For more information on the ACA Faculty Fellowship Program, visit acaweb.org/fellowships.

For more information on “Cosmogonies and Ancestral Spirituality in Abya Yala,” email Steffanell at [email protected].