People

Language Program Director

Laura Marqués Pascual, Ph.D.
4323 Phelps Hall
Department of Spanish & Portuguese
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
lmarques@spanport.ucsb.edu
Phone # (805) 893-5017

 


First-year Spanish Instructors

 

Lauren Applegate, Graduate Student
¡Hola!  My name is Lauren Applegate.  I am at UCSB for my Master’s and PhD in Spanish and Latin American literature.  One of my interests is the Latin-American 20th Century novel, but I am also interested in Golden Age literature.  I am a native Californian, but before coming to Santa Barbara I lived in Cambridge, England, on a short-term visa that allowed me to work there.  I have also lived and studied in Granada, Spain, and Quito, Ecuador, as well as traveled to other Latin American countries. In my class, be ready to get on your feet and talk every single day!

 

 

 

José César del Toro, Graduate Student

Liliana Gallegos, Graduate Student

Luis Hernández, Graduate Student

Michael Harris, Graduate Student

Claire Ihlendorf, Graduate Student

Julie Portillo, Graduate Student


Kathrin Theumer, Graduate Student
Hello Everyone!  I'm Katy.  I am currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Hispanic Languages and Literatures and teaching Spanish language courses at UCSB and Santa Monica College.  I love being in the classroom and have been teaching for five years at various spots along the Central Coast of California (although I am happiest when I'm skiing in the Sierra Nevada Mountains!).  My area of interest is 19th and 20th century Latin American poetry...more on this to come!

Second and Third Year Instructors


Irene Checa, Lecturer
Hola, my name is Irene Checa-Garcia and I am from Granada, Spain. There I got my B.A. in Spanish and my master in Linguistics, and from University of Almería my Ph.D. in linguistics. I first came to UCSB as a graduate student with the EAP program, and I enjoyed so much the research and the atmosphere here that I came again as a postdoc later on and as a lecturer now! My current research is on Spanish Linguistics, in adjective clauses in conversation. Apart from grammar, I also enjoy walking dogs as a volunteer, somewhat odd movies and chatting with friends around a good dinner, among many other things.

 

 

 

Myriam Gonzales-Smith, Lecturer

Timothy Klingler, Graduate Student

Amelia León Aguirre, Graduate Student

Omar Miranda Flores, Graduate Student
¡Hola! My name is Omar Miranda Flores, and I am from Chihuahua, Mexico, where I completed my undergraduate studies. I grew up in a valley not so far from the Sierra Madre. I received a MA in Spanish from New Mexico State University, with the desert as a companion. Currently, I'm a PhD student focusing in the works of Chilean writer Roberto Bolaño, here in beautiful Santa Barbara, the first time I have ever lived so close to the ocean. Literature and films, fútbol, teaching, creative writing, spending time with my good friends... are part of my life and passions. I consider myself an enthusiastic teacher who tries to make his class both useful and friendly, so welcome to my class those soon-to-be bilinguals.

Haley O'Neil, ABD Graduate Student
 Hi.  My name is Haley O’Neil and I am a fourth year graduate student in the department of Spanish and Portuguese.  I am originally from New Hampshire and I did my undergraduate degree from SkidmoreCollege in New York.  I spend my summers in Spain working as the assistant director of a study abroad program with Putney Student Travel.  I am currently working on my dissertation on Spanish literary journalism.  My research interests include contemporary peninsular literature, cultural studies and applied linguistics. 

Ana Requena, Graduate Student
¡Hola!  Me llamo Ana Requena.  I am currently in my first year of the Ph.D. program in the Spanish department and I am interested in studying the theatre of the Spanish Golden Age.  I received my B.A. in Spanish and Comparative Literature from UC Davis and my M.A. in Spanish from UC Santa Barbara.  I was born and raised in Northern California, and learned to speak Spanish at home as my entire family is from Spain.  My family comes from the south of Spain, from the province of Almería, on the Mediterranean coast.  It is a beautiful place and I enjoy traveling to Spain to visit family and friends.  I also enjoy reading, cooking, yoga, and watching films.  ¡Bienvenidos a Español 6!

Travis Schoreder, Graduate Student

Elena Villa, ABD Graduate Student

Marcus Welsh, Graduate Student
My name is Marcus Welsh and I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. I am interested in comparative film, theater, and cultural studies of Spain, Latin America, and U.S. Latinos, especially contemporary representations and productions of marginalized and minority populations. I received my Masters degree in Hispanic Literature from the University of Arizona and have been teaching Spanish at the university level since 1997. I have also taught at the elementary and secondary levels in Puerto Rico and Colombia. What's next? I want to learn to play the guitar and to do yoga. Want to know more? http://www.pacificu.edu/as/world/spanish/faculty/marcus_welsh.cfm

 

Amber Workman, Graduate Student
I received my M.A. in Spanish American Literature from Arizona State University.  I am interested in Mexican Literary and Cultural Studies, especially urban literature and Mexican intellectual history.  I hope that my students will enjoy reading, writing, and speaking Spanish and learning about Hispanic cultures.

Portuguese Instructors

 

Nicola Gavioli, Graduate Student