I have loved learning languages since I was in middle school. I was intrigued by the idea of being able to communicate with people that lived in a different part of the world and had a different way of experiencing it.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in foreign language education at the University of Connecticut. To boost my language skills, I studied abroad for a semester in Granada, Spain, and then spent a summer studying Italian language, culture and politics in Rome. Although I had intended to become a high school language teacher, these experiences abroad showed me that I had a lot left to learn. While abroad, I started to become independent in an environment that was not my own. It was stimulating and empowering.

Exploring other cultures inspired me on an intellectual level. After graduating college, I turned to the vast and intriguing world of literature and began a master’s degree in Spanish at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2012, I completed my doctorate and wrote my dissertation on literary representations of death in late modern Spanish literature. My research analyzes literary and cultural representations from the exciting period of late-nineteenth century Spain.

What I love about SU is that I see a former version of myself in my students-curious, inspired and itching to see the world. I enjoy teaching the senior capstone for Spanish majors as it gives me the opportunity to share my research interests with students who are ready for a challenge!”