The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is proud to honor Waleska Del Valle Solorzano, BA Philosophy '18, MA '21, with the 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award in women and gender studies.
Del Valle Solorzano is a PhD candidate in Latin American studies with minors in LGBT studies and media studies. Her interdisciplinary research examines how the desire for belonging and community-building manifests in Venezuela and its diaspora through art, cultural production, literature, and nightlife cultures. Her work spans art history, diaspora studies, queer of color critique, and Venezuelan studies, focusing on aesthetics, archival responsibilities, kinship, migration, and ontology.
As part of her dissertation project, Solorzano is expanding the Venesporan Artists Project. This digital platform on CollectionBuilder serves as a directory of contemporary artists of Venezuelan descent living in Europe, North America, and South America.
Prior to pursuing her PhD, she worked at the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs. Her work has been published in ASAP/Review, Chasqui, and Intervenxions.
Congratulations, Waleska Del Valle Solorzano!
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences honors distinguished alumni each fall at Community and Catalysts: Achievements, Awards, and Innovations. This signature event is a celebration of alumni, faculty, and students whose leadership, research, and service have made outstanding contributions to their fields, communities, and to the university.