Faculty Directory
B谩rbara Cruz
Barbara C. Cruz, Ph.D., is a professor whose scholarship focuses on global perspectives in social science education and teacher preparation. Her research explores English learners; Latin American and Caribbean studies; and the role of socially conscious contemporary art in advancing critical, culturally responsive learning.
A community-engaged scholar, Cruz leads and collaborates on projects across the University of South Florida, throughout the Tampa Bay region, and with colleagues nationwide. Her global engagement includes research partnerships with the Universidad de Alicante and the Universidad de Murcia in Spain.
Since 2020, Cruz has authored 13 curriculum guides for InsideART, an innovative arts-based learning and visual literacy program that integrates social studies with contemporary art. Now in its 15th year, the program鈥攄eveloped in partnership with the USF Contemporary Art Museum and Hillsborough County Public Schools鈥攑rovides professional development and instructional materials for grades 6鈥�12 educators. InsideART has positively impacted an estimated 75,000 students.
Cruz is an active member of the USF community, serving on advisory boards for the Institute for Latin American and Caribbean Studies, the Institute for Research in Art, and the Institute for Black Life. She also volunteers at Moffitt Cancer Center, where she serves on the Patient and Family Advisory Board and contributes to educational initiatives, including the Moffitt Genomic Education Committee and the Patient鈥揘urse Care Education Program.
Cruz鈥檚 recent books include Teaching Social Studies to English Language Learners (Routledge, 2025, 3rd ed.); Teaching With a Global Perspective (National Council for the Social Studies, 2024); and The Cuban Sandwich: A History in Layers (University Press of Florida, 2022).
She is a member of the National Council for the Social Studies, the Florida Council for the Social Studies, the Association of Academic Museums and Galleries, and the Asociaci贸n Universitaria de Profesorado de Did谩ctica de las Ciencias Sociales.
