Biography
Dr. Villanueva specializes in Spanish peninsular literature, film studies, Romance linguistics, and performance studies. He holds a Ph.D. (1998) and M.Phil. (1997) from Columbia University, an M.A. (1993) from Teachers College/Columbia University, and a B.A. (1992) from California State University, Northridge.
During the past 25 years, he has taught an extensive variety of courses in contemporary Spanish literature, Spanish and Latin American cinema, world cinema, film studies, and visual literacy, fields in which he has established himself as a recognized specialist.
Prior to joining Johnson & Wales University in 2015, he held teaching positions at several universities across the United States, including Brown University.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Villanueva brings rare industry experience to his teaching. From 1989 to 1992, he worked as an entertainer at Universal Studios Hollywood, where he gained firsthand knowledge of the filmmaking process — an experience that continues to enrich his film courses today.
Dr. Villanueva is also an accomplished author whose book Grandes novelas españolas contemporáneas y su versión cinematográfica demonstrates his expertise in the study of adaptation and the dynamic interplay between literature and cinema. He remains actively involved in the international scholarly community, presenting his research and organizing panels at conferences across the globe. This ongoing exchange of ideas enhances both his research agenda and his teaching. Furthermore, Dr. Villanueva is proficient in five languages: English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, and French.
At the heart of his teaching philosophy is a simple conviction: professors must model the same standards they set for their students — rigorous critical thinking, strong writing, thorough research, and a lifelong commitment to learning.
In sum, Dr. Villanueva’s career reflects a unique blend of academic achievement, international engagement, and professional experience in the film industry. This combination informs his teaching and research, providing students with both theoretical and practical perspectives. As he notes, “While working at Universal Studios, I gained comprehensive insight into the filmmaking process—experience I now bring to my film courses.”
Education
PhD, Columbia University
Spanish Literature
M.Phil, Columbia University
Spanish Literature
MA, Teachers College / Columbia University
Spanish Language and Culture
BA, California State University, Northridge
Spanish Language and Culture
Northeast Modern Languages Association
Film Society of New York
Portal del Hispanismo
Portal del Hispanismo
Northeast Modern Languages Association
Villanueva, N. (July (3rd Quarter/Summer) 1, 2011). Caballeriza: novela in fieri. (Journal Article).
Especulo.
http://webs.ucm.es/info//especulo/numero48/caballer.html
Villanueva, N. (July (3rd Quarter/Summer), 2005). “La búsqueda de la autodeterminación y El silencio de Neto.”: El silencio de Neto: Guion y articulos afines. (Article published in the book: The Silence of Neto).
Editorial Universitaria: Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.
Villanueva, N. (September 1, 2001). Grandes novelas españolas contemporáneas y su versión cinematográfica. (Book).
Editorial Pliegos.
57th NeMLA Annual Convention (March 5–8, 2026), “La Llorona: Metáfora de la intrahistoria y memoria histórica guatemalteca,” Gannon University, Pittsburgh, PA, United States. (March 5, 2026).
NeMLA 56th Annual Convention, “La experiencia homoerótica en Madres paralelas,” LaSalle University, Philadelphia, PA, United States. (March 7, 2025).
55th NeMLA Annual Convention Northeast Modern Languages Association, March 7-10, 2024, Boston, MA., “”Madres paralelas: como ser madre soltera y no morir en el intento.”,” Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States. (March 8, 2024).
54th NeMLA Annual Convention, Northeast Modern Language Asscociation, “Caballeriza: ¿ficción o autobiografía?”,” University of Buffalo, SUNY, Niagara Falls, NY, United States. (March 24, 2023).
54th NeMLA Annual Convention, Northeast Modern Languages Association, “El secreto de sus ojos y el deseo prohibido,” University of Buffalo, SUNY, Niagara Falls, NY, United States. (March 24, 2023).
I Congreso Internacional Género y Sexualidad en el Cine Español, “Madres paralelas y la intención de ser una buena madre,” Valencia, Spain. (November 29, 2022).
53rd NeMLA Annual Convention, Northeast Modern Languages Association, ““Infidelidad al texto original? El caso de Soldados de Salamina”,” Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. (March 10, 2022).
IV International Conference Storytelling Revisited: Gender and Health Universitat Central de Catalunya, VIC, Catalunya, Spain. (November 24, 2021).
II Congreso Internacional, Literatura y Franquismo: Ortodoxias y Heterodoxias, “La colmena y su censura,” Alcala de Henares, Spain. (October 21, 2021).
52nd Virtual NeMLA Annual Convention, ““Ardiente poesia: Il Postino”,” Northeast Modern Language Association (NeMLA). (March 10, 2021).
51st NeMLA Annual Convention, Northeast Modern Languages Association, ““El cine argentino y las co-producciones”,” Boston University, Boston, MA. (March 5, 2020).
50th NeMLA Annual Convention, Northeast Modern Language Association, ““ll Postino: cine y poesía”,” Georgetown University, Washington, DC. (March 21, 2019).
Congreso internacional “Cine, TV y cultura popular en los 90: España-Latinoamérica,” V Encuentro Académico Tecmerin, “”El cine latinoamericano en el marco de las co-producciones”,” Universidad Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. (October 17, 2018).
IX Congreso Internacional de la Asociación Hispánica de Humanidades (AHH): «Aportaciones y retos de la tradición cultural hispánica en una sociedad global»., ““Aspectos técnicos y estéticos en el nuevo cine argentino”,” Universidad de Extremadura, Caceres, Extremadura, Spain. (June 20, 2018).
48th NeMLA Annual Convention, Northeast Modern Languages Association, ““Lo hermético en El Sur de Víctor Erice”,” Johns Hopkins Unversity, Baltimore, MD. (March 23, 2017).
47TH NeMLA Annual Convention, Northeast Modern Language Association, ““El Sur: El poder de la memoria”,” University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT. (March 17, 2016).