Dr. Ivette Guzmán Zavala, professor of Spanish, recently published her book, Maternidades puertorriqueñas: esclavitud colonialismo y diáspora en el arte y la literatura, by the Instituto Internacional de Literatura Iberoamericana in Pittsburgh. She provokes a dialogue between images and texts advocating for a wider definition of motherhood that includes Black nannies and wetnurses. The book presentation will be announced soon.

Dr. Gabriela McEvoy, chair and professor of Spanish, served as a visiting lecturer in the Irish Studies Certification Program at the Universidad del Salvador, Argentina. As an Irish Latin American Studies specialist, Professor McEvoy structured her virtual seminar around the life of William R. Grace, an Irish immigrant who played an important role in the modernization of Latin America and its capitalist expansion. 

As a contributor to the book Transnational Migration, Diasporas, and Political Action, Dr. Gabriela McEvoy, chair of languages and professor of Spanish, participated in the book presentation at the Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires in Argentina on Sept. 30. The book was edited by Argentinean scholar Dr. María Eugenia Cruset.

Dr. McEvoy was also a keynote speaker at the Symposium in Irish Studies in South America, organized by the Asociación de Estudios Irlandeses del Sur, Cátedra Extracurricular de Estudios de Irlanda (Argentina), and the Associação Brasileira de Estudos Irlandeses (Brazil). She presented the paper, “Between abandonment and deception: Pull and push factors on Irish migrations.”

Dr. Ivette Guzmán-Zavala, professor of Spanish, and Giovanni “Gio” Negron-Garcia, associate director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, were honored among the 2022 POWER 100 Who’s Who in Latino Pennsylvania. “This list of Latinas and Latinos represents diverse individuals making valuable contributions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania… among the state’s most accomplished men and women in virtually every industry and profession.”

Dr. Guzmán-Zavala was recognized in the Education/Research/Academia category, while Negron-Garcia was acknowledged in the Emerging Leaders/10 Under 40 category. They and their fellow state leaders were honored during a live televised ceremony from the historic Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown on Sept. 30, that kicked off a convention to launch the PA Latino Convention. Dr. Guzmán-Zavala and Negron-Garcia also were invited speakers for the weekend convention. Negron-Garcia, who also serves as the Youth Leadership Coordinator for the PA Latino Convention, gave a State of Youth Address and facilitated a workshop on helping young men become effective community leaders.

Dutchirican: A Latina/o History of Central Pennsylvania opens on Friday, Sept. 16, from 6:30–8:30 p.m., as part of the Council’s First Fridays program. According to the council, “This is the first exhibition to explain the history of Latinos as part of our state, how they came here, what struggles they had, and what they have contributed to the region. There are posters, photography, and replica of a chicken house where many Puerto Rican tomateros lived in the 1950s.” The exhibition is the result of several years of research by Dr. Hinshaw, Professor of History and Dr. Ivette Guzmán-Zavala, Professor of Spanish. Visit here to register.

Dr. Gabriela McEvoy, chair of languages and professor of Spanish, contributed a chapter for Transnational Migration, Diasporas and Political Action. The book was published on July 5 by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Her chapter is “Mercedes Gallagher de Parks and the Changing Role of Peruvian Women in the Early 20th Century.”

Dr. Gabriela McEvoy, chair of languages and associate professor of Spanish, announced that 10 LVC students were awarded Zerbe Scholarships to help offset study abroad costs. Petra Stanavage ’23 (actuarial science, German Concentration), will study in Wurzburg, Germany, and nine students will study in Costa Rica this summer: Amber Arnold ’22 (criminal justice and Spanish double major), Angelina Coleianne ’23 (global studies, Spanish minor), Elianna Fitzpatrick ’23 (global studies and international business, Spanish minor), Ellie Flores ’24 (early childhood and special education, Spanish minor), Griffin Weidler ’22 (exercise science, Spanish minor), Tyler Snavely ’25 (biology, Spanish minor), Victoria Fredericksen ’25 (English, Spanish minor), Victoria Moreno ’25 (exploratory, Spanish minor), and Yonaira Seguinot Velásquez ’23 (psychology, Applied Spanish for Healthcare Professionals minor).  

A record number of 14 students will study in Costa Rica this summer! This is a faculty-led program with classes in Spanish and cultural excursions led by Dr. McEvoy. 

The Wurzburg, Germany, program is led by Dr. Rick Chamberlin, associate professor of French, German, and global studies. He will teach and lead excursions for two LVC students and 12 students from other colleges and universities. 

Dr. Gabriella McEvoy, chair of languages and professor of Spanish, joined two students in Puerto Rico during spring break to present their research at the XXIX Congreso Internacional de Literatura y Estudios Hispánicos in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

Julia Resele ’22, early childhood, special education, and Spanish, presented “Mercedes Gallagher de Parks: A Hidden Gem in the Peruvian Feminist Movement,” and Grace Parks ’21, D’23, exercise science, physical therapy, and Spanish, presented “Effects of World War II through the perspective of the Peruvian intellectual, Mercedes Gallagher de Parks.” Their research projects were developed with Dr. McEvoy as part of her current research and work done in her Latin American Cultures class and will be published as a book next year.

Dr. Gabriela McEvoy, chair of languages and associate professor of Spanish, published “El folklore como signo identitario nacional: un caso comparativo entre Irlanda y Perú.” Estudios Irlandeses. Universidad del Salvador, Argentina. Vol. 8, Núm. 8 (2021), Departamento de Lenguas Modernas. 

Dr. Gabriela McEvoy, chair and professor of Spanish, participated at the Coloquio Internacional: Tiempos, Destiempos y Contratiempos en la historia y la cultura de las mujeres (Havana, Cuba, virtual). Dr. McEvoy presented her paper, “Mercedes Gallagher de Parks’ contribution to Peruvian feminism” (Feb. 22–24, 2022).