Peter Cava, PhD, is a senior instructor, course coordinator, and subject matter expert in women's, gender, and sexuality studies and a faculty affiliate in African and African American Studies at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.
As a scholar, Dr. Cava focuses on transgender politics and screen cultures. Dr. Cava's writings have been published in Films for the Feminist Classroom; the Journal of American Culture; Ñanduty; QED: A Journal in GLBTQ Worldmaking; Trans Bodies, Trans Selves; and The Wiley-Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies. Their current research analyzes intersectional cisgenderism, a system where oppressions, such as sexism and racism, intersect to privilege gender normativity. As an educator and consultant, Dr. Cava has taught more than 100 sections of courses in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies; has developed an academic service-learning course in transgender studies; and has facilitated more than 1,000 writing consultations. |
As a public speaker and event planner, Dr. Cava has delivered many presentations and workshops. For example, Dr. Cava delivered a workshop on transfeminism at the Florida NOW Annual Conference. This workshop, along with the labor of NOW members Meredith Ockman and Heather Wright, led to the passage of Florida NOW's first transfeminist resolution. Conferences that Dr. Cava has co-planned include the Florida Consortium for Women’s Studies; the Transecting Society Conference: Affirming Trans* Lives, Advancing Trans* Politics; and the WGS South Annual Conference.
As an activist, Dr. Cava has engaged in community service and advocacy work. For example, Dr. Cava founded the Trans* Initiative. The asterisk in the name signifies the intention to be inclusive of a broad spectrum of gendered embodiments, identities, and expressions. The initiative's accomplishments include holding an annual trans forum, compiling a directory of resources about trans-inclusive higher education, organizing a successful campaign for trans-accessible restrooms, advising health care providers on how to meet trans health needs, and creating a short guide to trans recognition in the classroom.
Dr. Cava holds a BA in Communication from Grove City College, an MA in Ecumenical Studies from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, and a PhD in Comparative Studies from Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Cava’s awards and honors include the Feminist Scholarship, the Lynn-Wold-Schmidt Peace Studies Fellowship, the Patricia M. Courtenay Doctoral Fellowship, the Peace Studies Joan Joseph Foundation Scholarship, and the World Journalism Institute’s designation of fellow.
In their free time, Dr. Cava enjoys caring for their companion animal.
Last updated January 5, 2024
As an activist, Dr. Cava has engaged in community service and advocacy work. For example, Dr. Cava founded the Trans* Initiative. The asterisk in the name signifies the intention to be inclusive of a broad spectrum of gendered embodiments, identities, and expressions. The initiative's accomplishments include holding an annual trans forum, compiling a directory of resources about trans-inclusive higher education, organizing a successful campaign for trans-accessible restrooms, advising health care providers on how to meet trans health needs, and creating a short guide to trans recognition in the classroom.
Dr. Cava holds a BA in Communication from Grove City College, an MA in Ecumenical Studies from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, and a PhD in Comparative Studies from Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Cava’s awards and honors include the Feminist Scholarship, the Lynn-Wold-Schmidt Peace Studies Fellowship, the Patricia M. Courtenay Doctoral Fellowship, the Peace Studies Joan Joseph Foundation Scholarship, and the World Journalism Institute’s designation of fellow.
In their free time, Dr. Cava enjoys caring for their companion animal.
Last updated January 5, 2024