He obtained his doctorate in media studies at the Department of Radio-TV-Film at the University of Texas-Austin. His most recent book "Puerto Rican Soldiers and Second-Class Citizenship: Representations in Media," examines the cultural history of the imaginary of the Puerto Rican soldier, from representations in traditional media to self-representations in digital/social media. His research interests are within the areas of technology and culture, Race, ethnicity and Media, Digital and Social Media, Latino/a and Spanish Caribbean studies. Born in Mayaguez and raised in Aguada, Puerto Rico, Aviles-Santiago holds a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in research in communications from the University of Puerto Rico at Rio Piedras.