Announcing Rogelio Miñana as Vice Provost for Global Engagement

This message was sent to all faculty and staff by the Provost on March 12, 2021.

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce that Rogelio Miñana, PhD, has been appointed Vice Provost for Global Engagement, effective March 15. Rogelio is a professor of Spanish and currently head of the Department of Global Studies and Modern Languages in the College of Arts and Sciences, a role that he will retain in a dual appointment. This appointment is an integral step in developing a comprehensive global engagement strategy across the University.

By uniting global studies and global engagement, Rogelio will work in collaboration with Drexel’s many globally focused academic and administrative units to strengthen our international profile and expand opportunities for meaningful global experiences. These efforts will be critical to enhancing Drexel’s recruitment and retention efforts, as well as our ability to serve society through global outreach. Ultimately, the dual roles will support Drexel’s strategic goals of fostering civically engaged, globally competent citizens who can thrive and lead in complex cultural, economic and political conditions.

Rogelio received his PhD in Spanish Literature from Penn State and held faculty roles at three academic institutions, most recently at Mount Holyoke, where he served as professor and director of the Five College Blended Learning Program prior to joining Drexel University in 2015. He is the author of three books, including two books on early modern prose. His most recent book, “Living Quixote: Performative Activism in Contemporary Brazil and the Americas” (Vanderbilt University Press, 2020), examines the role of Don Quixote in 21st century political and social justice discourse in the Americas, particularly in Brazil. In both his scholarship and teaching, he explores the interplay between the traditional humanities, youth organizations and digital storytelling.

Rogelio has lectured in over 20 countries and published extensively on Spanish-language community-based learning, instructional technology, and the academic configuration and social location of language departments. He has received grant funding from competitive sources, including two Digital Humanities Grants from the Mellon Foundation. Last year, he received a Scholarly and Creativity Award from Drexel University to film and edit a video documentary on the Kid Quixotes project in Brooklyn, New York.

In his role as department head, Rogelio will continue to work closely with Drexel’s Modern Languages program and Global Studies major. Rebecca Clothey, PhD, an associate professor and Director of the Global Studies major, has been appointed Associate Department Head to provide additional leadership and ensure continuity in the department.

I would like to sincerely thank Janice “Jake” Marini for her leadership of the Office of Global Engagement for the past two years, particularly through a period of vast global challenges. Please join me in wishing Jake well on her future endeavors, and welcoming and supporting Rogelio in his new role.

Sincerely,

Paul E. Jensen
Executive Vice President
Nina Henderson Provost