Author: ngawali

The Iota Phi Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi

Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society (La Sociedad Nacional Honoraria Hispánica), was established on November 14, 1919, at the University of California Berkeley. The Society’s insignia is the royal seal of Fernando and Isabel, representing Castille, León and Aragón. Sigma Delta Pi’s colors are red and gold, its flower is the red carnation, and its motto is the Greek phrase “Spanías Didagéi Proágomen” meaning “Let’s go forth/continue forth under the teaching/guidance of the Spanish language.”

Faculty Adviser: Prof. Lee Kirven (lkirven@clemson.edu)

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clemsonsdpiotaphi 

Requirements for Membership

The following are the requirements for membership for undergraduates:

• Completion of at least three semesters of college course work.
• Completion of at least 18 semester hours of college-level Spanish or the equivalent, including at least three semester hours of a third-year literature, culture or Spanish for the professions (business, medical) course (i.e. 300-level or higher) at Clemson University.
• A grade average of B or better in all college-level Spanish courses completed.
• A cumulative grade point average of 3.2 or better in all college courses completed.

Clemson’s Iota Phi Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, is now accepting applications for membership in preparation for our spring induction ceremony on April 14, 2022 at 5:00pm. The completed electronic application (https://forms.gle/92uK4gF3GkNPMFst5) and supporting materials (electronic copy of your academic transcript downloaded from iROAR) must be submitted to Prof. Lee Kirven (lkirven@clemson.edu) by MIDNIGHT FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 2022. Applicants will be notified of status by March 31.

The Induction Ceremony, March 2, 2019

The Iota Phi Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi hosted the induction ceremony on March 2^nd, 2019, in The Brown Room of Cooper Library. We inducted 6 new members, and had a presentation by one of our students, Angelica Werth, about her experience studying abroad in Córdoba, Argentina. The total new members for the academic year of 2018-2019 was 6.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to everyone who helped make this ceremony possible including: Dr. Oropesa; Dr. Martínez-Armas; our librarian, Ed. Rock and our students: Anna Rhett, Mary Crosby, Ty’Celia, Matthew, Anna and Alex.

Photo credits: Anna Whitfield.

The Induction Ceremony, February 17, 2018

The Iota Phi Chapter of Sigma Delta Pi hosted the induction ceremony on February 17, 2018, in Daniel Hall of Clemson University. We inducted 13 new members, including an honorary member Ed Rock, from the library, to honor him for his dedication to Hispanic studies. With one graduating senior initiated in December 2017, the total new members for the academic year of 2017-2018 was 14.

The Theta Phi Chapter of Delta Phi Alpha

Delta Phi Alpha, the National Collegiate Honor Society (Deutsche Ehrenverbindung), was established at Wofford College on February 28, 1928 as the Deutscher Verein. Members of the Wofford group then began contacting German Clubs on other campuses, which subsequently led to the establishment Delta Phi Alpha in May of 1929. Since then, Delta Phi Alpha has sought “to recognize excellence in the study of German and to provide an incentive for higher scholarship. The Society aims to promote the study of the German language, literature and civilization and endeavors to emphasize those aspects of German life and culture which are of universal value and which contribute to humanity’s eternal search for peace and truth.”

Faculty Adviser: Prof. Harris King ( oswaldk@clemson.edu )

The Induction Ceremony, April 19, 2021

The Theta Phi Chapter of Delta Phi Alpha hosted the induction ceremony on April 19, 2021 via Zoom in keeping with safety measures of the ongoing global pandemic. We inducted the new member Anna Kadau, and the ceremony was attended by all German faculty members and two current Delta Phi Alpha members, Houston and Bennett. The ceremony was a welcome diversion from the stress and obligations at the end of the semester. The Theta Phi Alpha chapter plans to have an in-person meeting to celebrate Anna’s induction in the fall.

The Induction Ceremony, December 5, 2019

The Theta Phi Chapter of Delta Phi Alpha hosted the induction ceremony on December 5, 2019, in Daniel Hall of Clemson University. During the ceremony, Rachael Risinger, Bennett Meares, and Houston Everett were inducted, thus reactivating Clemson’s chapter after many years of inactivity.

The ceremony was held during the end of the semester holiday party hosted by the German Club. All students and faculty members present were able to celebrate the occasion with wonderful German food and with the singing of German carols.

The American Sign Language Honor Society recognizes outstanding academic achievement in ASL studies with three honors:

• • Honor Cords
  • Alice Cogswell Medal
  • Laurent Clerc Medal

To receive one or more of the honors, students must meet the minimum eligibility requirements for each, which includes both GPA and community service hours. For any honors to be conferred, a student must attend a campus with an active ASLHS chapter and have a sponsor in good standing of a certification in master level of American Sign Language Teachers Association. For purposes of grade point average computation, eligible ASL coursework includes ASL language, ASL literature, and Deaf studies. Interpretation coursework is not eligible.

Descriptions of honors & eligibility requirements:

	Honor Cords Honor cords may be worn at graduation or induction ceremonies if the student meets these eligibility requirements: Is a student at a high school, senior high school, or other secondary institution; Has studied ASL for at least two years; Possesses an overall grade point average of 3.5/B+ in his/her ASL coursework; Possesses an overall grade point average of 3.2/B in all other subjects; Completion of at least five (5) hours of community service that benefits the Deaf community. Please note: Honor cords are available only to high school/senior high/secondary programs.
	Alice Cogswell Medal The Alice Cogswell Medal may be worn at graduation or induction ceremonies if the student meets these eligibility requirements: Is a student at a community college or 4-year college /university; Has studied ASL for at least two years; Possesses an overall grade point average of 3.5/B+ in his/her ASL coursework; Possesses an overall grade point average of 3.2/B in all other subjects; Completion of at least five (5) hours of community service that benefits the Deaf community.
	Laurent Clerc Medal The Laurent Clerc Medal is the only ASLHS honor open to ASL students at both the high school and college levels if the following eligibility requirements are met: Is a high school or college student; Has studied ASL for at least three years; Possesses an overall grade point average of 3.7/A- in his/her ASL coursework; Possesses an overall grade point average of 3.5/B+ in all other subjects; Completion of at least ten (10) hours of community service that benefits the Deaf community.

Photos of Clemson ASLHS are posted in Clemson ASL Club Facebook group.

Link to ASL Honor Society: http://www.aslhonorsociety.org

Faculty Adviser: Prof. William (Bo) Clements (wrcleme@clemson.edu)

Dr. Arelis Moore organized a lecture by Rut E. Rivera and Antonia Camacho, PASOs Greenville (November 19, 2019)
Rut E. Rivera, Manager, Greenville PASOs Program, Prisma Health | Accountable Communities, and Antonia Camacho, Community Health Worker, PASOs Greenville, were invited by Dr. Arelis Moore to her SPAN 4190 class (Health and the Hispanic Community) to discuss healthy children, knowledgeable families, and strong communities. PASOs’ Community Health Workers (CHW) trainings cover a wide range of pertinent information regarding Latino experiences and cultures, resources available to families, outreach techniques, and immigrant rights. By providing a platform for oftentimes unheard voices, this initiative actively engages the strengths of Latino community leaders for contributing to a statewide overall well-being. PASOs works with agencies, organizations and coalitions to make sure that they are serving Latino patients and clients effectively. As advocates for their communities, PASOs brings forward the perspective of Latino families and brings ideas for change to decision-makers. PASOs helps build a stronger South Carolina by supporting Latino communities with education, advocacy, and leadership development. For more information, please visit: https://www.scpasos.org/

Dr. Arelis Moore with her students, Rut Rivera, and Antonia Camacho

La hora de la tarea 1
Are you having difficulties with your online homework? An instructor is here to assist you.
Prof. José Luis Ortiz, M.A.
Lecturer of Spanish (jlortiz@clemson.edu)

Prof. Ortiz with his students (SPAN 2020, fall 2019)

La hora de la tarea 2
Are you having difficulties with your online homework? An instructor is here to assist you.
Prof. Nora Logue, M.A.
Lecturer of Spanish (nlogue@clemson.edu)

Prof. Logue with her students (SPAN 2020, fall 2019)

La mesa española
Practice speaking with other students and improve your oral abilities in the target language (for students at the 2000 levels and above).
Prof. Zenia Cruz, M.A.
Lecturer of Spanish (zcruzva@clemson.edu)

Prof. Cruz with her students (SPAN 1020, fall 2019)

El club de español
Come and practice your Spanish while learning about Hispanic culture in an informal setting.
Prof. Yezid Flores, M.Ed.
Lecturer of Spanish (yflores@g.clemson.edu)

Prof. Flores with her students (SPAN 2020, fall 2019)

El mesón de lectura
Improve your reading comprehension skills.
Prof. Mercedes Tejera,  M.A.
Lecturer of Spanish (mtejera@clemson.edu)

Prof. Tejera with her students (SPAN 2010, fall 2019)

La mesa española 2
Practice speaking with other students and improve your oral abilities in the target language (for students at the 1000 levels).
Prof. Debra Williamson, M.A.
Lecturer of Spanish (debra4@clemson.edu)

Prof. Williamson with her students (SPAN 2010, fall 2019)

Hispanic Film Series
Join us to watch films that feature a diverse range of topics highlighting the history, culture and contributions of the Hispanic community around the world.
Prof. Ellory Schmucker, M.A.
Senior Lecturer of Spanish (eschmuc@g.clemson.edu)

 Prof. Schmucker with her students (SPAN 2010, fall 2019)

Hispanic Honor Society
Founded at the University of California, Berkeley in 1919, Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, is a non-profit organization incorporated in the State of South Carolina. Bestowal of membership in Sigma Delta Pi is an excellent way to reward outstanding students of Spanish in colleges and universities.
Prof. Rosa Pillcurima, M.A.
Lecturer of Spanish (rpillcu@clemson.edu)

Prof. Pillcurima with her students (SPAN 1010, fall 2019)

Poetry Declamation
Students from South Carolina and neighboring states come to Clemson University campus to show their linguistic abilities by competing in the annual poetry declamation contest. The contest is open to students regularly enrolled in middle and high school language courses. Contest competitions are offered in American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian, and Spanish. Students in Spanish classes recite poems by renowned Hispanic poets such as Alberti, Bécquer, Borges, Darío, Lorca, Machado, Martí, and Vallejo.
Prof. Melva Persico, Ph.D.
Senior Lecturer of Spanish (mpersic@clemson.edu)

Prof. Persico with her students (SPAN 3020, fall 2019)

María Rosa Júdez Riquelme, MD
Lecturer of Spanish and Health (mjudezr@clemson.edu)

María Rosa Júdez Riquelme, a member of the Board of Directors of Foothills Community Health Care, earned a Medical Doctor degree from Autonomic National University of Mexico; she has a Postgraduate Fellowship on Obesity, and a Specialty in Human Development from Humanistic Institute, Mexico. Postgraduate Certifications: Expertise on Health Science, Universidad La Salle; Expertise on General Practice; Clinical and Surgery Emergencies; Children and Adolescent Clinics; Women’s Health Clinics; Geriatric and Chronic Diseases; Clinical Nutrition and Bariatrics (UNAM); Education and Sexual Clinics (National General Medicine Academy); and Medical Assistant Program (Pendleton, SC). She was Academic Director of Continuous Education for General Practitioners for Primary Care Physicians and Nurses, speaker for Pharmaceutical laboratories, English-Spanish translator, editor for Elsevier Editorial Mexico, Study Coordinator for several clinical and pharmaceutical research studies in obese and diabetic patients, and manager of clinical research for Schering Plough Pharmaceuticals Research Institute. Dr. Júdez Riquelme also published several articles and co-authored a book on obesity. She taught Medical Clinics and Public Health as full time professor at several Universities in Mexico and has been teaching Medical Spanish (Span 3150 and 4190) as well as SPAN 1020, 2010, and 3050 at Clemson University.

Dr. Júdez Riquelme with her students (SPAN 3150, fall 2019)

Daniel J. Smith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Spanish (daniels@clemson.edu)

Dr. Daniel J. Smith, Coordinator of the Spanish Section in the Clemson University Languages Department, received his BA in Spanish (Bob Jones University), his M.Ed. in Foreign Language Education (University of Georgia), and his Ph.D. in Ibero-Romance Philology and Linguistics with a concentration in Spanish Linguistics (University of Texas at Austin). He also did graduate work at Middlebury College in Vermont. His main areas of research include linguistics, sociolinguistics, Spanish linguistics, language contact, bilingualism (especially Spanish and English bilingualism), and language acquisition (especially second language acquisition). He has researched, presented, and published on the grammatical and social forces which shape language in language contact situations and the practical implications of his and others’ research in relation to second language learning. He has presented his research at numerous national and international conferences. He has published articles in The International Journal of Bilingualism, Southwest Journal of Linguistics, Southern Journal of Linguistics, The Bilingual Review, Bilingual Research Journal, Revista Nebrija, Textos, Hipertexto, Porta Linguarum, and Normas: Revista de estudios lingüísticos hispánicos. Dr. Daniel Smith teaches courses in Spanish linguistics, general linguistics, Spanish grammar, composition, and conversation, and he has taught all levels of Spanish.

Dr. Smith with his students (SPAN 3020, fall 2019)

Arelis Moore de Peralta, MD, PhD, MPH, MEd
Assistant Professor of Spanish and Community Health (ared@clemson.edu)

Dr. Arelis Moore de Peralta (MD, MEd, MPH, Dominican Republic; PhD, Clemson University), an assistant professor with an inter-disciplinary appointment at the Department of Languages, is a medical epidemiologist and social scientist. Her role as a faculty and researcher at Clemson University, combined with her quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research expertise, is allowing her to explore inter-disciplinary, holistic and comprehensive approaches to the study of health disparities among minorities in the US, with an emphasis on Hispanics in the US, Latin-America, and the Caribbean. Dr. Moore worked in the public health system in the Dominican Republic (1995-2016) focusing on transmissible diseases. She was selected into the 2015-16 Community Engaged Scholars (CES) Program funded by NIH through the MUSC Center for Community Health Partnerships. Dr. Moore de Peralta has an ongoing community-engaged research project that takes place in the Dominican Republic, and involves conducting research and partnerships to build healthier communities. She has also been involved in a research team (GHS and USC) to explore health care services preferences of under-privileged communities in Greenville County, and was assigned to the NSF funded project Tigers Advance at Clemson University. She is offering SPAN 3970, 4180, and 4190 at the Department of Languages.

Dr. Moore de Peralta with her students (SPAN 4190, fall 2019)

Mónica Rojas de Massei, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Spanish (mmassei@clemson.edu)

Dr. Mónica Rojas de Massei was born in Córdoba, Argentina. She obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa. She worked as an educator the major part of her life. In the United States, she taught for the University of Iowa, Middlebury College and the University of Wisconsin. Her field of expertise is Hispanic drama, historical novels, pedagogical uses of theater in L2 classrooms, cultural studies, and creative writing. Dr. Rojas de Massei’s research publications include: “Cuerpo deseante, poder político en Flor de otoño de José María Rodríguez Méndez,” “La literatura fantástica y la voz femenina en el motivo del gólem en Omar amor de Cristina Fernández Cubas” and Los escenarios de la memoria en el teatro español contemporáneo.

Dr. Rojas de Massei with her students (SPAN 3050, fall 2018)

George Palacios, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Spanish (gpalaci@clemson.edu)

Dr. George Palacios received his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. His broad research and teaching interests encompass the literatures, cultures, philosophy and political thought related to the African diaspora in the Americas. He is particularly interested in the relations between Afro-Hispanic (i.e., Colombia, Central America, and the Caribbean islands), Afro-Brazilian and African-American literatures and cultures (i.e., the Harlem Renaissance). His recent publications include: “Las estrellas son negras o los rostros afrocolombianos a mediados del siglo XX en Colombia,” “Apuntes sobre la música, el folclor, lo nacional-popular y la literatura en algunos de los escritos tempranos de Manuel Zapata Olivella,” and “El motivo de los bogas.”

Dr. Palacios with his students (SPAN 3080, fall 2019)

Graciela Tissera, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Spanish (gtisser@clemson.edu)

Dr. Graciela Tissera completed her graduate studies in Spanish, Literature, and Latin, with honors, at Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina, and received her Ph. D. in Romance Languages and Literature from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Tissera’s research and teaching interests include Hispanic and comparative literature and film, literary and critical theory, and Spanish for the professions. Her Creative Inquiry projects focus on international health, global business, film studies, and service learning activities. Students in her classes present their research at national and international professional conferences. As Director of the L&IH Program (2009-2016), she coordinated the L&IH Symposiums and the study abroad program in the Dominican Republic. She also directed the International Spanish Program and Internships in Seville, Spain (2014-2018). Dr. Tissera serves as a Contributing Editor for national and international literary journals. She has been recognized as an outstanding professor by Clemson University Student Government, and her “Introduction to Hispanic Literary Forms” course was selected as one of the ten best courses in the national study of Spanish literature courses conducted by the Education Policy Improvement Center (EPIC). Dr. Tissera was inducted into the Order of the Discoverers, one of the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society’s highest honors. She was also awarded the Certificate of Service by the State of South Carolina and the Frank A. Burtner Award for Excellence in Advising.

Dr. Graciela Tissera’s students (SPAN 4010, fall 2019)

International Health and Hispanic Culture

This research project will focus on the interrelations between health and culture in the Hispanic countries and their impact on individuals and communities. The research will explore medical diseases and conditions, people’s traditions, beliefs, and perceptions related to health issues, home remedies, behavior change, family and community, doctor-patient relationship, and social aspects of public health (ethnicity, gender, poverty). Students will have the opportunity to travel to the Dominican Republic with the researchers and participate in service learning activities to help Hispanic communities and collect data for the research project.

Students’ Research Projects

Emily Blackshire:  Exploring the impact of domestic violence in the Dominican Republic<
Jardin Dogan:  Overcoming postpartum depression in Dominican Women
Jada Jones:  Risks of pregnancy and leading causes of infant and maternal mortality
Thomas Offerle:  An investigation into the treatment of Kahler’s disease
Elizabeth Villegas:  Sexual abuse among adolescents in the Dominican Republic
Ainsley Wingard:  Factors affecting cardiovascular health in the Dominican Republic
Chelsea Frasier:  Treatment of non-communicable diseases in children of Bolivia
Eandra Hall:  Healthcare systems in the Dominican Republic
Nigel Jones:  Healthcare services for Haitian immigrants in the Dominican Republic
Andrea Rojas:  Premature babies and professional training for nurses
Katelyn Ragland:  Private and public healthcare systems in Costa Rica
Kendyl Williams:  Huntington’s disease in Venezuela

Students presented their research at the Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum (Clemson University, April 6, 2015)

Gender and Leadership: Cinematic, Corporative & Media Portrayal

This project will explore different portrayals of men and women in leadership through film, media, and entertainment industries to define main strategies, motivation profiles, and common goals of diverse groups in a variety of disciplines. We will analyze new trends in leadership behaviors, styles, and gender-stereotypic arguments in the context of organizational and personal settings.

International professional conference and student’s research paper

The 14th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities was held from January 9th to January 12th, 2016 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in Honolulu, Hawaii. The main goal of the 2016 Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities is to provide an opportunity for academicians and professionals from various arts and humanities related fields from all over the world to come together and learn from each other. An additional goal of the conference is to provide a place for academicians and professionals with cross-disciplinary interests related to arts and humanities to meet and interact with members inside and outside their own particular disciplines.

Dre Martin: “Decoding filmic Symbols of the Power of the Female Community”

The research focuses on the complex relationships of women who strive to survive domestic violence and parental abandonment as portrayed in two films: Volver by Pedro Almodóvar (2006) and The Secret Life of Bees by <!—->Gina Prince-Bythewood (2008). Both directors brought controversial issues to life to have a more realistic idea of how these events impact individuals and communities.

Students’ Research Papers

The 10^th Biennial Associated Colleges of the South (ACS) Women’s and Gender Studies Conference, April 4-5, 2014. Furman University, Greenville, South Carolina. The theme of the conference, Intersections and Assemblages: Genders and Sexualities across Cultures, recognizes and addresses the multiplicity and diversity of scholarly approaches and activism to the long-standing aspiration for the abolition of all forms of inequality based on gender and/or sexuality.  It especially welcomes transnational, cross-cultural, or comparative perspectives on gender and sexuality.

Panel: Culture, Gender, and Transgender in Latin American Cinema: Redefining the Boundaries
Chair: Graciela Tissera
Mahvash Husain: “Relations between Transgender and Female Persecution in Arturo Ripstein’s The Place without Limits (1977)”
Emily Winburn: “Transgender and Trans-reality: The Imagery of Repression in Héctor Babenco’s Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985)”
Katie Lovett: “Gender and Power in The House of the Spirits by Bille August (1993)”

Panel: Exploring Transgender Identities in Pedro Almodóvar’s Films
Chair: Dolores Martín Armas
Hannah Haire: “Bad Education (2004): The Conflicting Persona and Self-expression in Art”
Courtney Dunnigan: “Creation and Transgenesis in The Skin I live in (2011)”

Students presented their research at the Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum (Clemson University, April 3, 2014)

Emily, Hannah, Mahvash, Katie, and Courtney at the Gender Studies Conference (Furman University)

Health and Business Topics in Film

This project will analyze different perspectives on health, business, and related topics to explore their impact on Hispanic countries and/or other areas of the world. Students will research historical and cultural aspects of several nations through videos, mass media, and pertinent materials (such as actual footage, film adaptations of novels, documentaries, movies based on real events and business and medical literature) by world renowned authors and film directors.

Elouise Cram (LIH), Rebecca McConnell (LIH), and Carson McCraw (Spanish) presented their Creative Inquiry research at the Decipher Debut. 

Elouise, Rebecca, and Carson attended the annual Decipher Debut on 6 October, 2016, in the Watt Atrium to present their Creative Inquiry research on Health and Business Topics in Film and Media mentored by Dr. Graciela Tissera. The article from Clemson’s Creative Inquiry magazine Decipher, “Health in Media: Hidden sides of Spanish culture are revealed through the analysis and discussion of foreign films” by Nichole Martinson, highlights main aspects of this Creative Inquiry project: the research on human sexuality, alternate realities, domestic violence, and feminist symbols, among other topics, the interpretation of perspectives from different cultures, the importance to think critically, and the opportunities students had to present their research at national and international professional conferences. Elouise, Rebecca, and Carson discussed their research with Dr. Barbara Speziale, Associate Director, Watt Family Innovation Center, and with those in attendance.

Professional National Conference and Students’ Research Papers

Gods & Heretics: Figures of Power and Subversion in Film and Television
The 2016 Film & History Conference, 26-30 October 2016

Session: 
The Supernatural in Hispanic films: Awakening the Hidden Specters of Memory
Chair: Dr. Graciela Tissera

Research Presentations:
Rebecca McConnell:  “The Occult beyond the Imagination in The Appeared by Paco Cabezas (2007)”
Jodie Holodak: “The Orphanage by Juan Antonio Bayona (2007): Paranormal Phenomena and the Game of Revelation”

Professional National Conference and Students’ Research Papers

Southeast Coastal Conference on Languages and Literature (April 7-8, 2016). Conference organized by Georgia Southern University (Department of Foreign Languages). This conference includes topics in Arabic, French, German, Spanish, Hispanic Linguistics, Classics, Comparative Literature, East Asian/Chinese, and Special Topics in language, literature, culture, pedagogy and film.

Session: Unconventional Cinematic Portrayal of Gender, Health, and Business Premises
Chair: Graciela Tissera.

Research Presentations:
Elouise Cram: “Women and Sexual Violence in Almodóvar’s Cinematography”
This presentation will focus on two films by Pedro Almodóvar: Volver (2006) and La piel que habito (2011). The research will explore the way women are impacted by and cope with acts of sexual violence and how these responses portray women in Almodóvar’s films.
Nigel James: “Images of Haiti: The Flawed Jewel of the Caribbean”
Haiti was once a country flowing with economic production and natural resources. Now, it is the poorest country in the western hemisphere with most of its resources depleted. The purpose of this presentation is to explore this country’s status through documentaries and films to analyze issues related to culture, politics, and health.
Allison Watkins: “Extreme Filmic Journeys to Fathom Luminous Minds and Broken Bodies”
This presentation will analyze medical hardships and their impact on men and female characters seeking extreme resolutions as portrayed in the following films: The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky (2006) and El mal ajeno by Oskar Santos (2010).

Students present their research at the Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum

Elouise Cram, Emily Blackshire, Chelsea Frasier, Teri Jo van der Horst, Nigel James, Dre Martin, Merritt McCully, Andrea Rojas, Alyssa Sullivan, Drew Valvo, and Allison Watkins presented their research on health and business topics in film and media (Clemson University, April 6, 2016)

Students’ Research Papers

Southeast Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures. Georgia Southern University. Savannah, Georgia, March 26-27, 2015.

Session:The Metaphor of Death in Film: Graphic Images, Surreal Transgressions
Chair: Dr. Graciela Tissera
Lisa Dueñas: “The Aura by Fabián Bielinsky (2005): Perceptions of Death in an Elusive Reality”
Meg O’Sell: “Confronting Death, Duty, and Love in Felicitas by Maria Teresa Costantini (2009)”

Session: Filmic Representations of the Art of War and Survival
Chair: Dr. Dolores Martín-Armas
Maggie Boyd: “Times of War and Alternate Existences in Pan’s Labyrinth by Guillermo del Toro (2006)”
Rebecca McConnell: “Europe under Fire: The Intricate Worlds of Survival”

Students present their research at the Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum

Caleb Addis, Lisa Dueñas, Meg O’Sell, Danielle Stephens, José Hernández, Rebecca McConnell, Maggie Boyd, Taylor Rouse, Jennifer Bolta, and Courtney Sipes presented their research on health, business, and gender topics in film (Clemson University, April 6, 2015)

Students’ Research Papers

Southeast Coastal Conference on Languages and Literatures (Savannah, Georgia, April 4-5, 2013). SECCLL is a scholarly conference organized by The Department of Foreign Languages and the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences at Georgia Southern University. The conference attracts scholars from the region and beyond. SECCLL is oriented toward the participation of scholars from both public and private institutions of higher education. It is a collegial and respectful environment marked by a rigorous and productive exchange among academics. Some of the topics include scholarship in French, German, Spanish, Linguistics, Classics, Comparative Literature, East Asian, and Special Topics, among others, in language, literature, culture, pedagogy and film.

Session: “Individual versus System: Cinematic Perspectives on Control and Rebellion”
Chair: Dr. Graciela Tissera
Ashleigh Frialde: “Filmic Portrayal of Social Factors in Children´s Critical Experiences”
Lisa Dueñas: “Buñuel and Piñeyro: Representations of Dehumanized Spaces and Conflicting Emotions”
Nancy Parra: “Two Face Mirror: The Unbalanced Scale of Power and Culture through Film”

Nancy, Lisa, and Ashleigh at the Conference on Languages and literatures (Georgia Southern University)

Spenser Staub, Alexa Parker, Aubrey Lawson, Michael Harris, Margaret Boyd (pictured), Victor Montilla, Ben Vukov, Patrick Wagner, Calie Berry, Kaela Gardner, Diamond Joseph, Jessie Phillips, and Kayla Wardlaw presented their research on Health and Business Topics in Film at the Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum (Clemson University, April 9, 2013)

The Hispanic World through Film, Literature, and Media

This project will analyze social, political, economic issues or related topics in the Hispanic world through videos and pertinent materials by world renowned authors and film directors. Students will also have the opportunity to complete service learning projects to help Hispanic communities. Through their service to Hispanic communities, students will explore the impact of culture, immigration, education, language, health, and jobs on family members and their future expectations in multicultural environments.

Professional National Conference and Students’ Research Papers

The Southwest Popular/American Culture Association 38th Annual Conference
Albuquerque, New Mexico: February 15-18, 2017

Session: 
Literature, Film, and Culture 4: Adapting Philosophers to Film
Chair: Dr. Graciela Tissera

Research Presentations:
Elouise Cram: “Gabriel García Márquez and Lisandro Naranjo: Recreating the Story of Margarito Duarte in the film Miracle in Rome (1988)”
Rebecca McConnell: “Cinematic Interpretation of Aura by Carlos Fuentes: Damiano Damiani’s The Witch (1966)”

Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum:
Robert Campos, Megan Courage, Elouise Cram, Michelle Fuentes, Hannah Gilliam, Danielle Haight, Colin Jones, Rebecca McConnell, and Rachel Rogers presented their research on The Fantastic in Hispanic Film at the Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum (Clemson University, April 5, 2017). The project mentored by Dr. Graciela Tissera, focused on the genre of science fiction and fantasy through films by world renowned Hispanic film directors. The analysis explored uncanny and marvelous elements related to parallel worlds, urban legends, the Lazarus syndrome, extrasensory perception, and dissociative identity, among other topics, as well as cinematic conventions and themes in fantastic films. With historical, cultural, political, and scientific contexts, the project analyzed supernatural phenomena as presented in films to determine the line between reality and unreality and the gateways between alternate worlds in order to forge an understanding of the unknown.

Students’ Research Papers

XIII Jornadas “Borges y los otros” International Conference (Buenos Aires, Argentina, August 21-23, 2013). The conference, organized by Fundación Jorge Luis Borges, includes specialists in Argentinean Literature, communication and media researchers, historians, critics and professors in general. These Sessions propose to study the work of Jorge Luis Borges in the context of Argentinean Literature, considering “others” as his precursors, contemporaries and/or successors, whether they be identified with his aesthetics, or associated by imitation of or contrast to his aesthetics. The universe of Borgesian others will thus constitute the reader-writer canon formed in the Literature of Argentina around his writing.

Session: Literatura borgeana y otras artes
Elyse Dengler: “Cinematic Labyrinths and Symmetries in ‘Death and the Compass’ by Jorge Luis Borges”
Meg O’Sell: “Borges and ‘The South’: Text and Filmic Perspectives on the Essence of Time and Space”

Testimonials

Elyse Dengler:
“Researching the work of Jorge Luis Borges opened up my mind to a new way of analyzing literature and thinking about life. I wrote a paper comparing his short story “Death and the Compass” and the film version of this story. I was fortunate enough to be able to present my work at a conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina where Borges spent a majority of his life. Seeing his apartment, eating at Café Tortoni where he used to be a frequent visitor, and experiencing firsthand the charms of Buenos Aires helped me to develop a more profound understanding and appreciation of his work. This was an extremely beneficial and unique experience that has enriched my education, cultural values, and global awareness.”

Meg O’Sell:
“Attending the XIII Jornadas “Borges y los otros” International Conference was a fascinating experience. Sharing my research with others who are very interested and knowledgeable about Argentinean literature was a great opportunity. We were able to listen to other presentations by specialists in this field of literature and learn new ideas and concepts related to my own studies. In addition to my academic enrichment, I met natives and learned a lot about the Argentinean culture. Studying “El Sur” by Jorge Luis Borges and doing research about their culture helped me understand their way of life, but spending time in Buenos Aires myself deepened my understanding beyond what I was able to learn through literature and films.”

Meg and Elyse at the XIII Jornadas “Borges y los otros” (Fundación Internacional Jorge Luis Borges, Argentina)

Daniel Grant, Grace Winchell, Nicole Cooper, Maghan Knight (pictured), Jay Patel, and Hannah Miller presented their research on The Hispanic World and Service Learning at the Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum (Clemson University, April 9, 2013)

The trips to the Dominican Republic and the professional presentations at national and international conferences are made possible through competitive travel grants awarded by the Creative Inquiry Program.

Professional National Conference and Students’ Research Papers

SouthEast Coastal Conference on Languages & Literatures. Georgia Southern University. Savannah, Georgia, April 5-6, 2018

Session:
Individuals versus Systems in Cinema
Chair: Dr. Graciela Tissera

Research Presentations:
Jesse Bynum: “Systematic Defensive Memory and Psychological Trauma in David Carreras’ Hipnos (2004)”
Hannah Cheeks: “Exploring the Treacherous Systems of the Mind: Sergi Vizcaíno’s Paranormal Xperience (2011)”

Students also presented their research at the Focus on Creative Inquiry Poster Forum at Clemson University (April 3, 2018).

Lessing Yearbook/Yearbook XLVIII, 2021.

The individual contributions deal with the Seven Years’ War, the explosion of the Breslau Powder Tower, the phenomenon of famine, earthquakes as catastrophes, theological aspects of the catastrophe discourse, gender-specific aspects of the catastrophe and reactions to the French Revolution.

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Stephen B.  Fitzmaurice,  The Role of the Educational Interpreter: Perceptions of Administrators and Teachers,  October 2021

While educational interpreting has been studied for decades, the research has historically focused on the tasks educational interpreters are engaged in during their work day. In  The Role of the Educational Interpreter, Stephen B. Fitzmaurice takes a new approach using role theory to examine how administrators and teachers perceive the role and work of educational (K–12) interpreters.

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Elizabeth A. Winston and Stephen B.  Fitzmaurice , Editors. Advances in Educational Interpreting.  September 2021

In this follow up to  Educational Interpreting: How It Can Succeed , published in 2004, Elizabeth A. Winston and Stephen B. Fitzmaurice present research about the current state of educational interpreting in both K-12 and post-secondary settings. This volume brings together experts in the field, including Deaf and hearing educational interpreters, interpreter researchers, interpreter educators, and Deaf consumers of educational interpreting services. The contributors explore impacts and potential outcomes for students placed in interpreted education settings, and address such topics as interpreter skills, cultural needs, and emergent signers.

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View Stephen Fitzmaurice’s Profile