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The Department of Latin American, Latino, & Iberian Studies (LALIS) is a diverse community that perceives the study of language, literature, and culture as integral to understanding the human experience. Our interdisciplinary humanities program highlights the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Iberian Peninsula and the Americas, including varieties of Spanglish in the United States. Our unique and expanding course catalog, which emphasizes content relevant to the Spanish and Portuguese-speaking worlds, includes courses in languages, literatures, linguistics, and community-based learning, as well as film, theater, performance, translation, cultural, and Latino studies. In LALIS, we welcome students of all linguistic backgrounds, whether their language experience began at home or in school, in the United States or abroad. We prepare students to engage in purposeful lives by fostering intellectual curiosity and integrity, cross-cultural awareness, and linguistic empathy. 

We are committed to empowering students to combat racial and social inequities. 

Student Success
  • Matt Kanwit, '05 has been promoted to Associate Professor at University of Pittsburgh.
  • Congratulations to the 2021 LALIS Award Winners:

Outstanding LALIS Majors
Josh Higdon
Katrina Kuhn

Outstanding Service to the Richmond Hispanic Community
Sabrina Ramsby

Outstanding Assistant Teacher in LALIS
Sandra Reyes

LALIS Feature Stories

Josh Higdon, '22: Finding Passion Through Research
Alongside University of Richmond’s Assistant Professor of Spanish, David Giancaspro, and Silvia Perez-Cortes, of Rutgers University–Camden, Higdon was the only undergraduate student to present a paper at the conference.
Four University of Richmond Students Awarded Fulbright Grants To Live, Work, and Study in Austria, Malaysia, and Mexico in 2021
Four University of Richmond students have been awarded prestigious Fulbright grants, which they will complete in 2021.
Shackelford, '21: Reflections from Studying Abroad in Cuba
Imani Shackelford is a junior at the University of Richmond where she is majoring in Visual and Media Arts Practice and minoring in Latin American, Latino, & Iberian Studies.
UR Student Published in VA Engage
Junior Rachel Ziemba discusses her experience taking a class called “Spanish in the Community.”
Robins student receives Civic Fellowship, interns with Alvin Ailey American Dance
She was accepted into the Ailey internship program for this past summer, and applied through the University of Richmond Civic Fellowship program for students hoping to intern with non-profits. She was the only business student selected for the fellowship.
Alum is first Spider to earn prestigious Latin American fellowship
When Spiders set their sights on something, chances are they’ll achieve it. Take Madison Sweitzer, '19, for example...
Emily Churchill Awarded Writing Consultant of the Year
Three faculty nominated the same student for different reasons. READ THE FULL STORY
Cassie Gilboy '19 wins The Jane Stockman Award
Cassie was recognized as a hard-working optimist who is an integral and critical part of Westhampton College
UR Professor Receives Grant to Study Latin American Magazines
Mariela Mendez, University of Richmond associate professor of Latin American, Latino, and Iberian Studies, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, has been awarded a $20,000 collaborative grant from the Chilean National Commission on Scientific and Technological Investigation to research feminist contributions in Latin American and American magazines.
Learning as an Emancipatory Practice
Dr. Karina Vazquez expands student perspectives through community engagement.
Alexandra Harter, '18

Alexandra Harter, '18, graduated with a degree in History, and Spanish. Alexandra was a Museum Attendant with UR Museums between 2016-2018 and was a Research Assistant for Dr. Elizabeth Kissling during the spring 2018.

During the summer of 2018, Alexandra worked for the Department of Latin American, Latino & Iberian Studies and UR Museums curating a Spanish language Museo Ambulante for three different Spanish proficiency levels. The exhibit topic is "La familia/The Family," as represented in different paintings, photographs, and prints from the UR Museums collection. Alexandra created Spanish scripts for the tour and three sets of activities ranging from vocabulary learning to advanced writing. The Museo Ambulante "La familia" will be used by students enrolled in LAIS 301- Spanish in the Community for their semester long CBL Project, and by future UR students interested in delivering bilingual tours for UR Museums. At the same time, Alexandra applied her Spanish skills and Museum knowledge while working as a Docent at the Agecroft Hall and Gardens. She plans to attend graduate school to earn a MA in Museum Studies with a History focus.

Newark native and recent University of Richmond graduate awarded Fulbright to teach English in Mexico
Rocío Posada-Castañeda, daughter of José Posada and Veronica Castañeda of Newark, Delaware, has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.
Chesapeake native and recent University of Richmond graduate awarded Fulbright to teach English in Panama
Gabrielle Robinson, of Chesapeake, Virginia, who graduated from the University of Richmond May 13, has received a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship.
University of Richmond hosts fundraising event for Puerto Rican artists impacted by Hurricane Maria
University of Richmond will host “Pa’lante Puerto Rico,” an educational opportunity for the Richmond community to learn about the history of Puerto Rico and a fundraiser supporting Puerto Rican artists impacted by Hurricane Maria. The event is April 25 from 5:30-7 p.m. in the courtyard of the Carole Weinstein International Center.
University of Richmond students to provide Spanish-guided tour of campus museum exhibition to local high school students
University of Richmond students will welcome 30 to 40 Tucker High School students who speak or are learning Spanish to campus next week for a Spanish-guided tour of the “Personal is Political” museum exhibition with art from the Joel and Lila Harnett Print Study Center.

Faculty Highlights

  • Méndez Invited to Brazil
    Méndez Invited to Brazil

    Mariela Méndez, associate professor and chair of LALIS, was invited to Brazil in December ’20 and January ’21 to give lectures at Universidade Federal de São Paulo and Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro on Brazilian writer Clarice Lispector.
  • Vazquez Published
    Vazquez Published

    Karina Vazquez, director of community-based learning, and a number of her students, recently published “Vulnerable Bodies: Domestic Violence in The Hispanic/Latinx Community During A Pandemic” in Latinx Talk. Read the article here.
  • Méndez Published
    Méndez Published

    Mariela Méndez, associate professor and chair of LALIS, just published a co-edited volume of essays on contemporary Argentinean writer María Moreno titled El Affair Moreno (Buenos Aires: Editorial Mansalva, 2020).
  • Méndez Published
    Méndez Published

    Mariela Méndez, associate professor of LALIS and WGSS, published “Operación Araña: Reflections on How a Performative Intervention in Buenos Aires's Subway System can Help Rethink Feminist Activism.” in a renowned history journal from Brazil.
  • Herrera and Méndez Published
    Herrera and Méndez Published

    Patricia Herrera, associate professor of theatre, and Mariela Méndez, associate professor of LALIS and WGSS, published an “Performando un activismo feminista: El trabajo de Debora Kuetzpal Vasquez en La Marca” in Conjunto.
  • Méndez awarded
    Méndez awarded

    Mariela Méndez, Associate Professor of LALIS and WGSS, has received a Fulbright Scholar Award to support three months in Rio de Janeiro to advance her research on understanding representations of genders and sexualities in Latin American newspapers and magazines.
  • Vazquez and Wright Published
    Vazquez and Wright Published

    Karina Vazquez, Director of Community-Based Learning, and Martha Wright, Assistant Curator of Academic and Public Engagement, published "Bridging Gaps and Disadvantages: University Students using Museums in Spanish as a Practice towards Inclusion" in University Museums and Collections Journal.
  • Feldman receives two grants
    Feldman receives two grants

    Sharon G. Feldman, Professor of Spanish and Catalan Studies, received a grant from the Fundación SGAE to translate and adapt into English Un conte de Nadal (A Christmas Carol) and another from the Sala Beckett to translate Fairfly, an award-winning contemporary Catalan play by Joan Yago.
  • Feldman invited to conference
    Feldman invited to conference

    Professor of Spanish and Catalan Studies, Sharon G. Feldman, was one of only six theatre translators from several countries invited to attend the Segona Missió de Traductors de Teatre Català Contemporani, hosted by the Sala Beckett and the Institut Ramon Llull in Barcelona.
  • Mendez Published
    Mendez Published

    Mariela Méndez has received the 2019 Best Critical Monograph Award by the Association for Gender and Sexuality Studies for her book, Crónicas Travestis: The Transgressive Journalism of Alfonsina Storni, Clarice Lispector and María Moreno.

Scholarship Repository Readership

The University of Richmond's Scholarship Repository shares faculty publications with a world-wide audience. The map below shows where articles from LALIS faculty are being read around the globe.

Videos

UR Learning Abroad: Gwen Setterberg,

UR Learning Abroad: Gwen Setterberg, '15

UR Learning Abroad: Gwen Setterberg, ’15 discusses her academic year in Brazil and how living abroad gave new meaning and understanding to the music she loves to perform.

Latin American and Iberian Studies: Práctica Oral

Latin American and Iberian Studies: Práctica Oral

In Práctica Oral, University of Richmond students learn Spanish through small group conversation. These interactive and fast-paced sessions are led by fellow undergraduate students who serve as assistant teachers.

Upcoming Events

There are no events currently scheduled.

SSIR Living on the Frontera, Trip to San Diego and Tijuana
Living on the Frontera: U.S./Mexico Border
Research Symposium
Study Abroad Scholarships
Service Learning
Placement Testing

Resources

Global Studio

Office of International Education

Cultures and Languages Across the Curriculum

Office of Sustainability

Contact Us

Mailing Address:
 Department of Latin American, Latino, and Iberian Studies
University of Richmond
211 Richmond Way
Carole Weinstein International Center
University of Richmond, VA 23173

Phone: (804) 484-1543
Fax: (804) 484-1544

Department Chair: Mariela Méndez
Administrative Coordinator: Sarah Helen Studebaker
Director of Community-Based Learning: Karina Vazquez
Director of Spanish Intensive Language Program: Ted Peebles