Tag Archives: HISP Faculty Focus

HISP Faculty Focus, March 2019: Professor Fenner Hoell

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Professor Fenner Hoell

As an undergraduate student at Eastern Carolina University, Professor Hoell spent his fall 2011 semester in the Bilateral Student Exchange/Spanish Immersion Program at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador, and then completed his B.A. in Hispanic Studies with a minor in Anthropology.  He then attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington where he earned his MAT with a specialization in Spanish.  During his time in Wilmington he taught for the Spanish Department at Hoggard High School (2017), and he worked as a graduate assistant for UNCW’s Department of World Languages and Cultures (2015-16). Since joining the Department of Hispanic Studies at the College of Charleston in August 2017, he has taught full time in the Basic Spanish Language Program, earned his Distance Education certification (spring 2018), and served on the Department of Hispanic Studies’ Distance Education Committee.

In Professor Hoell’s own words:

Working with the College for the past two years has been a marvelous experience which is difficult to summarize in a single paragraph. From the social atmosphere of the department, to the professional development opportunities that abound, we must remember this is one of the best positions we can be in within our field of expertise. I relish in the fact that each day I am given the chance to bestow on my students the gift my past instructors bestowed on me: the understanding and ability to communicate with others around the world. 

The Department of Hispanic Studies recognizes Professor Hoell’s fine contributions to students, his department and the College, and for being selected for our March 2019 “Hispanic Studies Faculty Focus.”

Stay tuned for April 2019’s feature…

HISP Faculty Focus, February 2019: Professor Claudia Moran

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Professor Claudia Moran

After earning her undergraduate degree in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the Instituto Nacional Superior en Lenguas Vivas, Professor Moran obtained her M.A. in Bilingual Legal Interpreting at the College of Charleston, where for the past 17 years she has taught a wide range of courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels to include beginning and intermediate Spanish language, interpreting and applied Spanish.

Complementing her efforts in the classroom, she also serves as the Coordinator of the Spanish Conversation Program, which affords students one-credit hour, co-curricular opportunities for improving their oral and aural language skills.  Professor Moran is aptly suited for this role as she is currently one of only two in the Department of Hispanic Studies with American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview Tester Certification.

In addition to her leadership role as a program coordinator, Professor Moran has also served the department and College in a myriad of ways to include her editorial role for the past decade with the department’s newsletter, HispaNews; past chair of the Spanish House Committee; past co-adviser of the Hispanic Latino Club; former member of the Faculty Advisory Committee to the President; and long-time member of the Honor Board Advisory Committee.

In Professor Moran’s own words:

It has been an honor for me to have been part of CofC in different capacities, but that of a teacher has been the most rewarding. I love being in the classroom and sharing experiences with my students as I teach language and culture, especially when I hear them express their learning curiosity, as beginners or in more advanced courses such as SPAN 316 where I introduce students to interpreting as one of the many ways to apply a degree in Spanish. As the coordinator of the Spanish Conversation Class program for the past five years, I have had the opportunity to work closely with exceptional Peer Teachers as they share their own passion for the language with their students as I observe their classes. I have also been able to work closely with students as a committee member of the Casa Hispana and the Hispanic-Latino Club and share their enthusiasm for the Spanish language and culture. Throughout the years I have greatly enjoyed learning from and sharing ideas with everyone in the Department of Hispanic Studies. 

The Department of Hispanic Studies applauds Claudia Moran for her important contributions to students, her department and the College, and for being selected for our February 2019 “Hispanic Studies Faculty Focus.”

Stay tuned for March 2019’s feature…

HISP Faculty Focus, September 2018: Dr. Vicki Garrett

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Dr. Vicki Garrett

After obtaining her Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literatures at the University of California, Los Angeles, Professor Vicki Garrett moved east where she spent four years as a Teaching Assistant Professor and Director of Latin American Studies at West Virginia University.  In August 2015, she joined the College of Charleston’s Department of Hispanic Studies as an Adjunct Instructor, and in 2016 she transitioned to her current position as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish.  In her 3 years to date at CofC, she has already managed to teach an impressive range of courses to include basic Spanish language through advanced literature for the Spanish major, Spanish literature in translation, and classes for the Latin American and Caribbean Studies and First Year Experience programs. Dr. Garrett has also contributed to the College outside the classroom through her service on the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Executive Committee and Curriculum Review Committee as well as the Hispanic Studies Student Awards Committee.

Also an active scholar, Dr. Garrett researches Latin American theater and cinema; Argentine cultural studies; disability studies, violence, and the body; and the intersections of gender ethnicity and the environment.  Since joining the College of Charleston faculty, she has enjoyed multiple publications, yet her most ambitious scholarly project to date is her book Performing Everyday Life in Argentine Popular Theater, 1890-1934 that will be published with Palgrave Macmillan in late 2018.

In her own words:

It is so inspiring to teach students who are passionate about social and environmental justice in an institution that empowers faculty to address these pressing 21st-century issues within our areas of expertise. One of my favorite things about teaching at CofC is that students are so eager to explore different perspectives on social issues through Latin(x) American literature and culture.

The Department of Hispanic Studies congratulates Dr. Garrett for her multi-layered contributions to our academic community at the College of Charleston, and for being selected for our September 2018 “Hispanic Studies Faculty Focus.”

Stay tuned for October 2018’s feature…

HISP Faculty Focus, May 2018: Professor Marianne Verlinden

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Dr. Marianne Verlinden

Before joining the College of Charleston in 1999, Professor Verlinden earned her Ph.D. in Latin American Studies at Tulane University, and her M.A. at Louisiana Tech University.  Currently a Senior Instructor in the Department of Hispanic Studies since 2009, Dr. Verlinden has taught at every level in the Spanish curriculum to include basic language through graduate courses, and almost everything in between to include Hispanic literature, culture, translation and Medical Spanish, among others.  Besides her work for the Department of Hispanic Studies, she has taught for the Honors College, the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program, the M.Ed. in Languages program and the past M.A. program in bilingual interpreting.

In addition to her vast teaching experience, she has served the department, the School of Languages, Cultures & World Affairs, and the College in countless ways through several departmental ad hoc committees on policy, co-direction of the study abroad program in Spain, the Latin American & Caribbean Studies Program Steering Committee, the Graduate Council, as Global Scholars Mentor, on the First Year Experience Committee, Faculty Senate, and Faculty Welfare Committee, among numerous other activities.   In her own words:

I feel fortunate to work closely with our students, and, through both teaching and advising, encourage them to communicate in another language, and open their eyes to other cultures. Whether they are at the beginning of the journey, like in SPAN 101, or eager to develop their language skills and cultural competencies in professional contexts, such as in SPAN 316, students keep me on my toes, challenging me to constantly reexamine my teaching practice, and that is how it should be! Likewise, I greatly value the opportunity my service work affords me to hear and learn from the diversity of views and approaches to teaching and learning represented among colleagues on campus.

The Department of Hispanic Studies is grateful for Dr. Marianne Verlinden’s many ongoing contributions to students, her academic unit, and the College of Charleston, and for being selected for our May 2018 “Hispanic Studies Faculty Focus.”

HISP Faculty Focus will resume in August 2018 following the summer break, so please stay tuned …