About

Talofofo Falls, Guam

Curtis J. Jewell was born on the island of Guam, a territory of the United States. This island, while being the connection to his familial history, also serves as the center of his research and professional goals: interacting with students learning to navigate a multiplicity of cultures and languages. His specific community of interest, the CHamoru [Chamorro] people of Guam, is currently the site of cultural and linguistic revitalization efforts poised to recover from repeated colonization.

Born in Guam but raised in the Pacific Northwest, Curtis obtained his bachelor’s degree from Portland State University. Intrigued by the pairing of 1) the outward presentation of Portland’s progressive politics that champion inclusion and 2) the predominantly homogeneous demographics of the city, Curtis began researching narratology and the ethical representation of historically marginalized and voiceless communities.

His work took him to Purdue University where he began work as the Assistant Director for Multilingual Writing this Fall after travelling to Barranquilla, Colombia as part of a collaborative research project on translingualism. Curtis continues to explore how researchers can use their work to honor the ongoing narratives, complicate the public understandings, and support the growth of individual and communal identities through community engagement.

During his free time, Curtis enjoys hiking with his dog Geo; listening to the stories of his community members; and pretending he can play basketball. You can find him reading in his hammock on the West Lafayette, Purdue University campus or possibly walking around while wearing a silly hat.