Author Archives: Michael Gomez

Hispanic Studies, Student Focus for January 2020: Ms. Elizabeth Edmunds

 

HISP’s Student Focus for January 2020 is Ms. Elizabeth Edmunds. 

Ms. Edmunds, a major in Elementary Education and Spanish, has formed an important part of Hispanic Studies since 2018, when she began contributing her talents as a Peer Educator within the departmental Basic Spanish Language conversational supplement.

Besides honing her pedagogical and linguistic chops and edifying her peers, Elizabeth has been active in other areas–both at the College of Charleston and beyond–serving as Assistant Membership Director for the Phi Mu Women’s Fraternity and tutoring local children through Charleston Hope.

In her own words:

The Department of Hispanic Studies has made my academic experience a dream. I have never met a Spanish professor I have not loved. Over my six Spanish courses thus far, I have been met with encouragement and support. All of my professors loved what they do and wanted each student to succeed. I feel valued as a student and as an individual as each of my professors truly knows me and I am not just a name in a class. This is such a unique feeling, especially in college where it is often hard to form relationships with professors.

I am so excited to be putting my language skills to test as I will be studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain in the spring semester. Immersion will improve my Spanish exponentially and I will truly get to experience Spanish culture firsthand by living in the country. I am so grateful for the opportunity and ability to be able to live abroad as it is something I have always wanted to do.

I plan to use my Spanish skills by teaching bilingual students or teaching in an immersion school. Spanish is an increasingly important language to know, especially living in the United States with the growing population of Spanish speakers. I am excited about all I will learn on my journey abroad.

HISP Faculty Focus, December 2019: Dr. Daniela Meireles

 

Professor Daniela Meireles earned her Ph.D. in Iberian and Latin American Literature and Culture at the University of Texas at Austin. Her research on inter-American cultures focuses on contemporary Brazilian and Spanish-American literature and film and examines the ways such cultural production challenges mainstream discourses of hemispheric citizenship, while building on those of  pan-Americanism and pan-latinidad.

Dr. Meireles joined the Department of Hispanic Studies at the College of Charleston in the Fall 2019 where she is currently an Instructor of Spanish and Portuguese and has been serving the Department as part of the Portuguese Program Steering Committee as well as co-advising the Portuguese Club and the National Portuguese Honor Society Phi Lambda Beta.

She will offer her First-Year Experience seminar in the Fall 2020 and she is excited to introduce freshman students to Brazilian culture, her home country.

In Dr. Meireles’s own words:

The love for foreign languages and for cultural diversity defines my personal and academic life. I hope I can inspire in my students the same passion for languages and cultures as well as the empathy necessary to become world citizens. I am grateful to the Department of Hispanic Studies and to the College of Charleston for the opportunity to get involved with the campus in many ways, whether it be through teaching languages and cultures, promoting Latin American cultural events, or being part of new initiatives and future projects involving Portuguese and Brazil.

 

Hispanic Studies, Student Focus for December 2019: Mr. Bryson Cook

Mr. Bryson Cook (Class of 2022) is Hispanic Studies’ Student Focus for December 2019.

Pursuing an impressive triple major course of study in Public Health (B.S.), Exercise Science (B.S.) and Spanish [with a focus in Linguistics] (B.A.), as well as a minor in Medical Humanities, Mr. Cook still finds time to lead an active life outside of the classroom.

His many activities and endeavors include playing for the College of Charleston’s Rugby Club, serving as a Facilitator for the Cougar Excursion Camp, and participating as a member of such organizations as Omicron Delta Kappa, CofC’s Honor Society Chapter.

One last distinction which merits mention is Bryson’s being awarded the inaugural Hispanic Studies’ Trujillo Scholarship for study in Spain during the spring semester of 2020.

For all of the above, and for much more, Hispanic Studies is proud to feature Mr. Bryson Cook as its Student Focus for December 2019.

In his own words:

I am grateful for the faculty in the Hispanic Studies department; their dedication and passion are unparalleled. Each professor has been extremely encouraging. I have immensely enjoyed the lecture and conversation courses in learning how to effectively communicate in Spanish. The Global Scholars, Hispanic Studies Career Seminar Series lecture events and HispaCasts are informative and fascinating. Also, I’ve found the Tertulia monthly meetings to be a great way to make new friends, while utilizing and continuing to learn the Spanish language. Additionally, I am honored and appreciative to the Hispanic Studies Advisory Board for the inaugural Trujillo, Spain Study Abroad Scholarship. With great enthusiasm, I am embarking on my first study abroad for Spring 2020 to continue learning the language, culture, and history in an immersed atmosphere that will undoubtedly be an invaluable experience.

Upon my return, I look forward to applying for both the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society and the student peer teacher for Spanish conversation courses. Also, engaging in a Spanish Service-Learning course and volunteering as a translator for the MUSC CARES Clinic.

After I graduate, my professional career choice is in the health field. My core passion is aiding individuals to have a more fulfilled life. The perpetual pursuit of the Spanish language will allow me to better achieve that.

“Only A Life Lived For Others Is a Life Worthwhile” – Albert Einstein

 Thank you,

Bryson Cook

HISP Faculty Focus, November 2019: Marisol Castro-Calzada

Ms. Marisol Castro-Calzada–a 2008 graduate of the College of Charleston’s M.Ed. in Spanish program, as well as of Western Carolina University (B.A. in Business Administration, 2002)–has been an integral part of Hispanic Studies since December of 2008.

Since joining the department as an Adjunct Lecturer in Spanish, Ms. Castro-Calzada has expertly taught classes in the Basic Spanish Language program, both online and face-to-face. In addition, she has contributed significantly to the Distance Education Committee, the Basic Language Planning Committee and as a mentor in the Mentoring Matters program.

Previous to her career at the College of Charleston, Marisol served as an instructor and, ultimately, as Department Chair at the Charleston Collegiate School. Certainly, we are glad she chose to join Hispanic Studies, as the department is immeasurably enriched by her presence.

In her own words:

“I’m one of those fortunate people who have found their life’s passion in their work. As a CofC faculty member for the last ten years, I have been able to help my students gain a greater understanding of the world through the study of other languages and cultures. As a mentor and an educator, I have had the opportunity to develop close relationships with my students throughout their learning experiences. And, as a member of the Hispanic Studies Department, I have been very fortunate to collaborate with the department’s exceptional faculty, who are always a source of inspiration and growth.”

Hispanic Studies, Student Focus for November 2019: Ms. Millie Noury

Millie Noury (Class of 2021) is Hispanic Studies’ Student Focus for November of 2019.

An accomplished major in Spanish and Elementary Education, with a minor in Linguistics, Ms. Noury has contributed to the department and wider institution alike in her roles as a veteran Spanish tutor for the Center for Student Learning, Treasurer of Best Buddies Inclusivity Club and as a Cougar Excursion Facilitator. In addition, Millie has distinguished herself by being granted membership in the prestigious Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honors Society. For all this –and more– Hispanic Studies is proud to have Ms. Millie Noury among its ranks.

In her own words:

“Nothing sounds more pleasing to me than the Spanish language. I love the way it rolls off the tongue and I enjoy practicing and speaking with my peers, department faculty, and other speakers as much as possible. It is a skill I am proud to have and that I truly enjoy cultivating. I plan to use the Spanish that I am learning at CofC in the classroom, as I’d like to teach bilingual children one day. The Hispanic Studies Department makes me feel comfortable as I continue to develop my language skills and they are always willing to help if I have questions. The department feels so close-knit and has a true sense of community. The department really values me as a student and as a learner and I am very proud to be a part of something this great!”

 

 

Hispanic Studies, Student Focus for October 2019: Ms. Arianna Alvarado

 

Arianna Alvarado (Class of 2021) is Hispanic Studies’ Student Focus for October of 2019.

In addition to her declared minor in Portuguese and Brazilian Studies, Ms. Alvarado is also engaged in dual Bachelor’s programs: a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Latin American and Caribbean Studies–no small feat!

Besides her academic involvement as a student of the department and its related programs, Arianna has contributed significantly to Hispanic Studies, serving as President of the Portuguese Club, as well as in her capacity as a tutor of Portuguese and a Peer Academic Teacher.

While many more impressive things might be related of Ms. Alvarado–e.g. her membership in Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, her musical talents and academic achievements in other fields–let it suffice to say that Hispanic Studies is most proud to be able to feature someone of Ms. Arianna Alvarado’s undoubted caliber in this edition of Student Focus.

In her own words:

“My experience with the Hispanic Studies department has been nothing but incredible. The professors in the Portuguese department, with whom I have shared most of my time, are exceptional and their work is always individualized, which makes me as a student feel seen and heard. As a Portuguese minor and LACS major, I plan to study abroad in Brazil to further my fluency in the language and to experience such a rich and diverse culture. I also hope to expand my knowledge of other languages in the future because I believe that the language is what makes a culture and to be able to learn and communicate, we must first attempt to understand it.“

HISP Faculty Focus, October 2019: Dr. Elizabeth Martínez-Gibson

Dr. Elizabeth Martínez-Gibson has a B.A. in French Language and Literature from De Sales University, an M.A. in Hispanic Literature and a Ph.D. in Spanish with a specialization in Spanish and General Linguistics from the University at Albany. Before joining the faculty at the College of Charleston twenty-eight years ago, she taught at the University of Florida for five years, as a lecturer.

Dr. Martínez-Gibson has been a full professor in the Department of Hispanic Studies for over nine years and her contributions to the curriculum and leadership in areas of teaching, research and service are evidence of her dedication to and passion for languages and linguistics. She has taught a wide array of courses from all levels of Spanish language, culture and linguistics courses for undergraduates, as well as linguistics courses for the M.Ed. Program, the M.A. in Bilingual Interpreting, the Linguistics Minor Program and the Honors College.

In addition, she has created many courses for the Department of Hispanic Studies, the Linguistics Minor Program, the M.Ed. in Languages Program, and the M.A. in Bilingual Interpreting. She has demonstrated her selfless dedication to the College by founding and directing the successful Linguistics Minor (2001-present) and a Master’s Certificate for Medical Interpreting (2006-2010). Furthermore, she was instrumental in researching, developing and proposing a potential minor in Spanish for the Professions in 2017.

Complementing her teaching, Dr. Martínez-Gibson has focused her research on language contact. Throughout the years, she has published numerous articles and presented her research at regional, national and international conferences. Her studies have been a source for teaching methodology, as well as innovative research for colleagues. Her areas of study include the morphosyntactic and lexical variation of Heritage speakers and Second-Language learners of Spanish in the U.S. Over the past eleven years, she has concentrated her research on the use of English in Spain’s linguistic landscape and language contact in Spanish-language newspapers in the U.S. South. As a part of her expertise in these areas, Dr. Martínez-Gibson is an invited guest editor to review manuscripts for journals such as Foreign Language Annals, Modern Language Journal, Sage Publishers for their linguistics journals, and others.

Beyond teaching and research, Dr. Martínez-Gibson’s contributions and leadership to her Department, the College, and the Charleston community are noteworthy. In the Department of Hispanic Studies, she has developed curriculum and served on committees for searches, tenure and promotion policies, department guidelines, study abroad adviser, and many others. She also served on numerous impactful college-wide committees including Tenure and Promotion, Academic Standards, Salary Compensation, the Budget Committee and as a Department and School representative in the Faculty Senate for many years.

Finally, in addition to the above, there are three notable activities of service that Dr. Martínez-Gibson has contributed that are a further testament to her passion for her profession. In 1993, she and a colleague established and co-directed a study abroad program in Málaga, Spain, and since that time, she has co-directed a number of study abroad groups between 1995 and 2013. In 2001, she started The Language Fair, now known as the LCWA World Cultures Fair. For eleven years, she organized and coordinated this fair; and the Hispanic Fair, its spin-off, for a few years. Finally, in 2006, when Dr. Martínez-Gibson started the Masters Certificate in Medical Interpreting, her training led her to volunteer at MUSC. For the past 13 years, she has dedicated time every week to interpret at the hospital. As a nationally certified medical interpreter for the past 7 years, she devotes her time to learning more about interpreting and teaching the skills for interpreting and helping the Hispanic community with communication.

In Dr. Martínez-Gibson’s own words:

My experience as a faculty member for the last twenty-eight years at the College of Charleston has given me many life experiences. In addition to my experiences in the classroom and beyond at the College of Charleston, I have enjoyed learning how to grow as a teacher as times have changed, and I have always loved learning about College governance as I served on many committees. What I hope I have instilled in my students is a thirst to learn more, to take challenges, to experience the languages and cultures of the world through their own eyes so that they can become more appreciative and accepting of people from around the globe. My passion for languages, linguistics, and cultural diversity are a part of my identity and my life.