Education
- Ph.D. in Spanish Language and Literature, Arizona State University, 2018
- M.A. in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture, St. Louis University, Madrid, 2013
- Level II Pennsylvania State Teaching Certification, Shippensburg University, 2009
- B.A. in Spanish, Shippensburg University, 2009
Areas of Research
My principal areas of research include contemporary Hispanic literature and feminist disability studies. I am interested in how illness and disability are represented in Hispanic literature written by ill or disabled women, and how their experiences are shaped by the culture/society of their respective country of origin.
Courses
- Elementary Spanish I and II
- Advanced Communication
- Hispanics in the United States
- Spanish Enlightenment
- Hispanic Film
What is the most important piece of advice you give to students to help them succeed?
Learning a language is a multi-faceted experience that includes a complex system of grammar, vocabulary, syntax, and culture. Consistent practice and immersion are key to successful acquisition. However, remember to have fun doing it—learning a language is about forming connections with other people and cultures different than your own!
Selected Publications
- 2019: “A Look at Feminine Curiosity and Voyeurism in Laura Citarella’s Ostende”: Journal: Studies in Spanish & Latin American Cinemas, Vol. 16.
- 2018: "El abuso doméstico en La hija del mar de Rosalía de Castro": Journal: Siglo diecinueve, vol. 24, 2018, pp. 45-63.
- 2017: “Lucanamarca, el genocidio y la violencia sexual en La sangre de la aurora”: Journal: Confluencia, Vol. 34, N ͦ1.
Additional Experience
I studied abroad for the first time in 2008 in Salamanca, Spain, and fell in love with the Spanish culture and people. I lived on and off in Spain while completing my MA in Madrid and have taken both high school and college students on study abroad trips to Spain. Before obtaining my PhD in Spanish, I was a high school teacher for six years at Northern York County School District in Dillsburg, PA. After completion and before coming to work at Grove City College, I was a Visiting Assistant Professor of Spanish at Goucher College in Towson, MD from 2018-2020, and a Visiting Instructor of Spanish at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, AL from 2020-2021.