College of Arts and Sciences

Education:

• PhD, Spanish Literature, Penn State, 1999
• MA, Spanish Literature, University of Ottawa - Canada, 1996
• BA, Spanish Literature and Linguistics, University of Valencia - Spain, 1995
• BA, Catalan Linguistics and Literature, University of Valencia - Spain, 1995
• BA, Piano, “Joaquín Rodrigo” Conservatory, Valencia - Spain, 1994

Curriculum Vitae:

Research Interests:

• The role of classic cultural icons, particularly Don Quixote
• 21st century political and social justice discourse
• Interplay between the traditional humanities, youth organizations, and digital storytelling.

Bio:

Hola! I am a Professor of Spanish and Vice Provost for Global Engagement at Drexel University. Our students and faculty travel in and out of the classroom across regions and cultures to tackle global issues from a transnational and multidisciplinary perspective. Of course, we also look at the effects of globalization on our local communities here in the US.

In my research I study the role of classic cultural icons, particularly Don Quixote, in 21st century political and social justice discourse. In my scholarship and pedagogy, I explore the interplay between the traditional humanities, youth organizations, and digital storytelling.

I have published two books on early modern prose: La verosimilitud en el Siglo de Oro: Cervantes y la novela corta (Juan de la Cuesta, 2002) and Monstruos que hablan: El discurso de la monstruosidad en Cervantes (U of North Carolina P – Chapel Hill, 2008). My latest book project, tentatively entitled Living Quixote: Don Quixote, Politics, and Social Justice in 21st-century Spain and the Americas, examines appropriations of Don Quixote in public discourse in contemporary Spain and the Americas, particularly in Brazil.

I enjoy travel, all cultural expressions, good food, the empowering awkwardness of speaking languages other than your own, and tennis.

Selected Publications:

• “Lessons From Migrant Youth: A Digital Storytelling Course in Springfield, Massachusetts” Learning From Diverse Latina/o Communities: Social Justice Approaches to Civic Engagement. Ed. Mari Castañeda and Joseph Krupczynski. New York: New York UP, 2016
• “Don Quijote de las Américas: Activismo, teatro y el hidalgo Quijano en el Brasil contemporáneo.” El Quijote desde América (Segunda parte). Ed. James Iffland, DOJ Ayalamacedo e Ignacio Arellano. Pamplona: Universidad de Navarra, 2016
• "Latina/o Community Media Activism: Digital Storytelling and the Latino Youth Media Institute in Springfield, MA.” The Routledge Companion to Latina/o Media. Ed. María Elena Cepeda and Dolores Inés Casillas. New York: Routledge, 2015
• “Beyond the Classroom Wall: Engaging Local Communities in Five Words.” ADFL Bulletin 43.3 (2015)
• “Seeing Quixote: Teaching Don Quixote in the 21st Century.” Approaches to Teaching Don Quixote. Ed. James A. Parr and Lisa Vollendorf. New York: MLA, 2014. 359-64
• “Don Quixote Among Brazilians: Um tal de Dom Quixote (Márcio Meirelles and Cleise Mendes, 1998)." Homenaje a Frederick de Armas (tentative title), 2015
• “The New Mission and Location of Spanish Departments in the United States: The Mount Holyoke Experience.” Profession, December 2013
• “Righting Wrongs: Don Quixote’s ‘Other History’ in Brazilian Youth Theater.” Don Quixote: Interdisciplinary Connections. Ed. James A. Parr and Matthew Warshawsky. Newark: Juan de la Cuesta, 2013. 203-22.
• “The ‘Don Quixote of the Streets’: Social Justice Theater in São Paulo, Brazil.” Cervantes 31.1 (2011): 159-70
• “Nación de quijotes: Don Quijote en el discurso político contemporáneo en España.” USA Cervantes. 39 cervantistas en Estados Unidos. Ed. Georgina M. Dopico Black y Francisco Layna Ranz. Madrid: Polifemo, 2009. 895-924
• “O Projeto Quixote em São Paulo: reflexões sobre cultura e transformação social.” Translated into Portuguese by Laura Calejón. Revista UNICSUL 15 (2007, published in 2008): 58-65