ABOUT

Dr. Elizabeth Gackstetter Nichols, Professor of Spanish at Drury University, specializes in the area of Women and Gender Studies with current research interests in Latin American and International Beauty Practices, Cosplay and Popular Culture. Dr. Nichols is the author of a variety of books, articles and encyclopedia entries in her research fields, including: Popular Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean, Beauty, Virtue, Honor and Success in Venezuela 1850-2015 and Beauty Around the World: A Cultural Encyclopedia. Dr. Nichols’ current investigations focus on the international practice of cosplay, or “costume-play” in the United States, Mexico and across the Americas. She is a cosplayer herself, a cosplay mom and an advocate for fan-led artistic creativity.  She blogs at www.cosplaymom.com.