Be sure to check out this just published feature on Hispanic Studies’ Dr. Christina García—just one of the department’s many talented faculty:
https://today.cofc.edu/2021/07/21/cofc-faces-to-know-christina-garcia-fs/
Author Archives: Michael Gomez
HISP / Dr. Carrillo-Arciniega Receives Literary Prize for Hotel Francés.
Congratulations to Hispanic Studies’ Dr. Raúl Carrillo-Arciniega, who was recently awarded the Premio Internacional de Narrativa ‘Ignacio Manuel Altamirano’ for his novel, Hotel Francés.
This prize, sponsored in part by the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, was granted to Dr. Carrillo Arciniega following a careful consideration of 750 novels, submitted by authors from 17 countries.
HISP / Dr. Carl Wise’s Article in the Bulletin of the Comediantes
Congratulations to Dr. Carl Wise, whose article, “The Atlantic Metropolis: Ships and Seafarers in Lope de Vega’s El Arenal de Sevilla,” is slated to appear in the Bulletin of the Comediantes, vol. 73, no. 1 (2021).
Dr. Sarah Owens’ Health and Healing in the Early Modern Iberian World Now in Print
Congratulations to Dr. Sarah Owens, whose co-authored work, Health and Healing in the Early Modern Iberian World: A Gendered Perspective (University of Toronto Press, 2021), is now in print and ready for consumption.
The following description, provided by the publisher, gives a little idea of the focus of this fascinating study:
HISP Faculty Focus for April 2021: Dr. Raúl Carrillo-Arciniega
Dr. Raúl Carrillo-Arciniega is Hispanic Studies’ Faculty Focus for April 2021.
Dr. Raúl Carrillo-Arciniega, a member of HISP since 2005, received his doctorate from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2004), where he specialized in Latin American Literature. Prior to this, he earned his Licenciatura (with honors) in Hispanic Literature from the Universidad Autónoma de México (1999).
As anyone who has had the pleasure of conversing with Dr. Carillo-Arciniega well knows, his interests are as varied as his reflections upon them are deep. Ample testament to this is to be found in his record of publication and works in progress, which contain—among other things—his study “El pensamiento poético fenoménico en David Huerta,” as well as his poetic compilation, China Girl (Silla Vacía Editorial, 2020) and award-winning novel, Tenesí River (2017).
For all these reasons, and more, Hispanic Studies is proud to number Dr. Raúl Carrillo-Arciniega among its own.
In his own words:
“Teaching literature is teaching students how to use a language, to be sure. It is also, for me, teaching them to think beyond; to go deeper and to penetrate into the author’s mind. I enjoy sharing my passion for literature, art, philosophy, and cinema—all being fields where we explore what make us human–here and in Latin America. I believe in the power of language to resolve all our problems, and the classroom is a good place to start looking for solutions.”
HISP Student Focus for April 2021: Mr. Creighton Shelby (’22)
Mr. Creighton Shelby (’22) is the Hispanic Studies Student Focus for April 2021.
Creighton Shelby, a Spanish Language Education major and Linguistics minor remarks, “For me, Hispanic Studies is home.” When one considers just how much of a part he plays in some of the department’s most important activities –and, thus, how much he forms a part of HISP’s daily life– it is hard to disagree with him.
Since 2019, he has served as a Spanish tutor at the Center for Student Learning, assisting his peers and working with the department’s faculty in helping students to get a handle on some of those more elusive grammatical concepts. In addition, he has taught as a member of the SPAN Peer Conversation Class Program and lent his talents as Treasurer of the Spanish Club.
Beyond this, he will be one of only two student presenters at the upcoming Hispanic Studies hosted online, international CofC-UNLaM-USACH Conference, which runs from April 6-8 (you can check out his presentation on “El lenguaje inclusive: buscando algo más del binario” on the April 6th at 4 p.m. by registering here).
Of course, while Creighton is a valued member of the Hispanic Studies family, he also belongs and has contributed substantially to other groups on campus—not the least of which is the Reformed University Fellowship Ministry, on whose Leadership Committee he serves, as well as the Office of New Student Programs, with which he works as an Orientation Intern.
In his own words:
“For me, Hispanic Studies is home. I came into college with a love and fascination of the Spanish language and my professors and peers have helped this grow since starting at the College. The Hispanic Studies department here at College of Charleston has afforded me countless opportunities such as living in the Spanish House, studying abroad in Trujillo, Spain, and working on an independent study to deeper explore my interest in Spanish linguistics. I have learned that Spanish is far more than just a language, but a lived experience. I cannot be more grateful for the support and encouragement I have received from each of my professors and peers. I am excited to continue loving and learning to love the Spanish language in the future!”
HISP Student Focus, March 2021: Mr. Riley Taylor (’22)
Mr. Riley Taylor (’22) is the Hispanic Studies Student Focus for March, 2021.
A Spanish major with two minors in International Studies and Communications, Riley Taylor is certainly one of those students who has decided to make the most of his time at the College of Charleston.
In the classroom, as anyone who has taught him will readily attest, Riley is keen to engage and to be engaged; displaying a genuine passion for learning more about the topic at hand—whether this is the poetry of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer, the history and culture of Latin America, or some sophisticated concept of Spanish linguistics. Such dedication to and enthusiasm for his studies are evinced through his being recognized with such honors as being placed on the President’s and Dean’s Lists, not to mention his gaining admission to the Sigma Delta Pi National Spanish Honor Society (the latter for which he currently serves as secretary).
To be sure, Mr. Taylor’s many activities are not limited to those sponsored by Hispanic Studies. Besides the above, he has also kept busy as a College Student Audio-Visual Support Technician, a member of the Student Sports Marketing Team and as a participant in CofC’s Model United Nations.
While not a complete summary of Riley’s activities and achievements, the preceding certainly should communicate exactly why it is HISP is proud to feature him as this month’s Student Focus.
In his own words…
“Choosing a higher education path in Hispanic Studies has opened countless doors for me as I progress towards my future career. Through the Spanish language, I have been exposed to a world of history, culture, tradition, and beauty that I otherwise would not have known existed. I am beyond grateful for the Hispanic Studies Department at the College not only for my higher education, but because they truly have the most dedicated, passionate faculty that make each course much more than just a class, but a valuable, memorable experience. I am proud to say that I am a Spanish speaker and ever more pleased to represent the Hispanic Studies Department at the College of Charleston.”
HISP Faculty Focus, March 2021: Prof. Georgia Schlau
Prof. Georgia Schlau is HISP’s Faculty Focus for March 2021.
Prof. Georgia Schlau received her Master’s from the University of South Carolina (’69), where her thesis focused on The Novels of Rafael F. Muñoz, before beginning study for a Ph.D. in Romance Literatures and Languages, at the University of Georgia.
Following her graduate-level studies, Ms. Schlau held positions as an Instructor at the University of South Carolina and as an Assistant Professor at Baptist College, among other places, before joining the Department of Hispanic Studies as an Instructor in 1990. From 1992-2011, she served ably as Director of the Language Resource Center at the College, before returning to the classroom as an Instructor, from 2012-2016, and then teaching part-time following her retirement in the latter year.
Of course, Ms. Schlau’s professional pedigree is only part of the reason that she is so valued by Hispanic Studies. Besides her admirable work in and outside of the classroom, she has contributed significantly to the life of the College, that of the Department and of students in general, through such activities as her past advising of the Spanish Club and her participation in the World Cultures Fair.
For all of these reasons, and for many others, HISP is proud to claim Ms. Georgia Schlau as one of its own and to be able to feature her in this month’s Faculty Focus.
In her own words…
“I enjoy teaching so much I came back after retirement to continue teaching for the Hispanic Studies Department. It gives me a focus and keeps me young at heart.”
SPAN Major, Isabel Del Mastro (’22), Awarded Sigma Delta Pi Internship Prize
Hispanic Studies’ Spanish major Ms. Isabel Del Mastro (’22) was recently awarded National Spanish Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi’s inaugural Virtual Internship Scholarship. The internship, to be conducted during the upcoming summer of 2021, will put Ms. Del Mastro into contact with an organization in Medellín, Colombia, in either the field of NGOs & Nonprofits or Languages & Translation. Isabel was chosen, along with only one other individual, from a highly competitive, national pool of applicants. Congratulations to her on this considerable achievement!
HISP’s Student Focus, February 2021: Ms. Isabel Del Mastro (’22)
Hispanic Studies’ Student focus for February 2021 is Ms. Isabel Del Mastro (’22)
A double major in Spanish and Latin American & Caribbean Studies and a double minor in Linguistics and Studio Art, Ms. Del Mastro has participated actively in the life of the department since arriving at the College of Charleston—most recently, in her role as a Spanish Peer Instructor and tutor, as well as in the context of the Spanish National Honor Society, Sigma Delta Pi, the Nu Zeta chapter of which she currently serves a president.
Of course, as is frequently the case with Hispanic Studies’ impressive majors and minors, Isabel has been up to other notable and exciting activities, including studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, being accepted as an intern with Student Action with Farmworkers, and lending her considerable talents to the Trident Literacy Association.
For all of these reasons, and many others, HISP is proud to count the talented Ms. Isabel Del Mastro among its students.
In her own words…
“My experiences with Hispanic Studies and its members have been nothing but positive and motivating throughout my college career. I have been able to connect with a wonderful group of professors who show an infectious passion for the material they instruct and the information that they research. Through their advising and guidance, I have been able to study abroad in Argentina, and apply for internships that have allowed me to conceptualize possibilities for life after college. They also motivated me to pursue a Latin American and Caribbean Studies major and add a Linguistics minor to my graduation plan. Even simply taking classes within Hispanic Studies has grown my passion for studying Latin American literature, history and culture!
I can honestly say that Hispanic Studies has been a major force in shaping my college experience. I am so grateful for the opportunities and support that the department and its members have given to me, and I am proud to have shared this experience with so many amazing students and faculty!“