Susann Davis, FT Instructor
Undergraduate Advisor
(M.A Auburn University, Hispanic Studies)
Office: 284 FAC
Phone: (270) 745-6478
e-mail: susann.davis@wku.edu
http://www.wku.edu/~susann.davis/home.html
Jami Eller, FT
Instructor
Office: 260 FAC
Phone: (270) 745-5102
e-mail: jami.eller@wku.edu
I am a full-time Instructor of Spanish here at WKU where I am currently teaching Spanish 101 and 102. I am a native of San Diego, California, where I received the M.A. in Spanish (with an emphasis in linguistics) from San Diego State University in December 2003. I received the B.A. in Spanish/Communication Studies in 1998 from the University of San Diego. I have taught abroad in both Spain and Peru and was most recently a linguistics research assistant at San Diego State.
Sonia Lenk, Assistant Professor
(Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, Hispanic Linguistics)
Office: 243 FAC
Phone: (270) 745-5906
e-mail: sonia.lenk@wku.edu
I am the daughter of Czech immigrants, born in Canada, and raised in Ecuador. Therefore, I was brought up in a diverse environment, surrounded by different languages and cultures. That is how I developed a special interest for languages and civilizations. I obtained my Licenciatura in English and Linguistics at the Universidad Católica de Quito, then, came to the States to get an MA in Spanish and an MEd in Educational Administration at Bowling Green State University, a PhD. in Hispanic Linguistics and a Certificate in Latin American Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. I have presented papers on Latin American Poetry, Applied Linguistics, Pragmatics,and Sociolinguistics at national and international conferences. My latest research focuses on minority languages.
I have worked in different linguistic projects as well as taught different levels of Spanish. I started teaching Spanish in Ecuador at different multinational companies, and then, here in the States, at the university level. I have also taught for KIIS in Spain and Middlebury College Summer School in Vermont. I am the Director of the KIIS summer program in Argentina. I have visited about 24 states in this country and 30 different countries. As my colleagues, I am a believer in the importance of studying abroad. When I have some free time, I enjoy spending it with my family and friends. I get pleasure from reading, surfing the World Wide Web, going to movies, and going to the gym, but especially from visiting with people and traveling.
Gustavo Obeso, FT
Instructor
(M.A University of Arkansas)
Office: 270 FAC
Phone: (270) 745-5906
e-mail: gustavo.obeso@wku.edu
http://www.wku.edu/~gustavo.obeso/
Eder Maestre, FT Instructor
(B. S. in Education, Universidad del Atlántico, Barranquilla Colombia)
(M. A. in Spanish, Queens College, The City University of New York)
Office: 161 FAC
Phone: (270) 745-5296
e-mail: eder.maestre@wku.edu
I am a native of Valledupar, Republic of Colombia. I received my bachelor's degree in Education with an emphasis in English and Spanish in 1990. In 1993, I moved from my native town to New York City. I was looking for better opportunities to expand my knowledge of the English language and to explore the American culture. Before I came to The United States, I taught English as a foreign language and Spanish language and literature at various secondary institutions in Colombia.
In 2004, I received my master's degree from Queens College of CUNY. I taught all levels of Spanish in high school and at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York City. I am a member of the New York State Bilingual Association and the Spanish and Portuguese American Teacher Association.
My objective as a professional is to accommodate my diverse students in a warm, stimulating environment. I enjoy teaching Spanish. I value my students' and colleagues' opinions and I love being a team player. I like attending educational language seminars and I love traveling the world.
Inmaculada Pertusa
Associate Professor
(Ph.D., University of Colorado, Peninsular and Latin American Literature)
Office: 231 FAC
Phone: (270) 745-8772
e-mail: inma.pertusa@wku.edu
http://www.wku.edu/~inma.pertusa/
Dr. Pertusa's area of specialization is contemporary Peninsular and Latin American Literature. She was co-editer of the book Tortilleras: Latina Lesbians (Temple Press 2003), and author of La salida del armario: Lecturas desde la otra acera (Libros del Pexe 2005), a book on the Hispanic writers Esther Tusquest, Carme Riera, Cristina Peri Rossi and Sylvia Molloy . Together with articles on several women writers, Dr. Pertusa also has published articles on instructional technology, and study abroad. She has taught courses on "The Hispanic Theater", "Space and Literature", "Literature through Film Adaptation", "Short Stories by Spanish Women Writers", Spanish for Business, Spanish Culture and Civilization, and Spanish composition and conversation.
Dr. Pertusa is very interested in instructional technologies, and has co-developed several web sites, including "Segovia: Virtual Study Abroad" and "Pasaporte a España", two web sites directed to students studying abroad, as well as "Negocios en Español", "Turning in to Spanish", "Encuentros con España" and "Impresiones de España". During the summer 04 Dr. Pertusa taught for the Middlebury College Summer school in Vermont, VA. She has also been site director and summer professor on several occasions for the Kentucky Institute for International Studies program in Spain, and she is currently the program director of the KIIS Spring Segovia Study Abroad Program. She was the recipient of the 2003 Provost Oustanding Teaching Award from te University of Kentucky where she taught for 8 years before coming to Western. (http://www.uky.edu/PR/News/Archives/2003/April2003/03-04_provost_awards.htm).
Bonita Phelps, FT Instructor
Glasgow campus
Phone: 270-659-6939
e-mail: Bonita.Phelps@wku.edu
Melissa Stewart
Full Professor
(Ph.D. Johns Hopkins University, Spanish Literature)
Office: 247 FAC
Phone: (270) 745-7935
e-mail: Melissa.Stewart@wku.edu
http://www.wku.edu/~Melissa.Stewart/
During my years at Western, I have taught a wide range of classes, including all levels of language, a second-semester course for Health Science students, the Spanish literature survey, contemporary Spanish literature, Spanish culture and civilization, and texts of the Spanish Civil War.
My research interests include contemporary narrative by Catalan women and the relations between autobiography and fiction in the writing of peninsular authors, as well as collaborative work on language learning and the study abroad experience, and the incorporation of technology into the foreign language curriculum.
I am a big supporter of study abroad and have served as the director of the Kentucky Institute for International Studies summer program in Spain for many years.
Alfonso Casana, PT Instructor (extended campus)
(M.S. from Western Kentucky University
B.A. Civil Engineering from NUC.-Peru
ESL From University of Pittsburgh, PA)
e-mail: alfonso.casana@wku.edu
Fina Simpson, PT Instructor (extended campus)
Spanish Major Program | Latin American Studies | International Business Minor