Dr. Patrick Duffey, professor of Spanish and Margarett Root Brown Chair of Foreign Languages and Literatures at Austin College, will present a Johnson Center Sabbatical Series Lecture, “Recovering Latin American Women’s Writing: The Case of Rosa Arciniega, Peruvian Journalist, Novelist, and Mystical Anarchist in Madrid, 1929-1936,” on Wednesday, February 7, in Wright Campus Center’s Mabee Hall at 5 p.m. The lecture and the preceding 4:30 p.m. reception are free and open to the public. The events are presented by the College’s Johnson Center for Faculty Development and Excellence in Teaching.
Duffey will introduce Peruvian journalist Rosa Arciniega, long forgotten by most, who made her way on her own in the male-dominated cultural scene in Madrid in the 1930s. “We will explore how she was able to have success in a foreign capital at such a young age,” Duffey says, “and how she rebelled against traditional gender roles and expectations. She created ingenious literary works in an astonishing array of genres—social protest novels, political novels, science fiction, and historical novels. Rosa was a writer and an accomplished airplane pilot and radio broadcaster.”
Duffey, who joined the Austin College faculty in 1994, holds a Ph.D. from UT-Austin in Hispanic literature with an emphasis on Latin American narrative. At Austin College he teaches Spanish language and Latin American literature, and has introduced courses on the intersection of film and Hispanic literature.
The lecture is presented by Austin College’s Robert and Joyce Johnson Center for Faculty Development and Excellence in Teaching, directed by Dr. Randi Tanglen, associate professor of English. Within the mission of the center is the encouragement of “bold exploration of intellectual frontiers” and “fostering lively intellectual dialogue within and across academic disciplines.”
The Johnson Center schedules a number of events throughout the year, with presentations by Austin College faculty and guest lecturers. The next Sabbatical Series lecture will feature Dr. Mike Higgs, professor of mathematics and computer science, presenting “Teaching Machines to Learn” on April 4.
Austin College has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 40 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of approximately 1,275 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 13:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The private liberal arts college located north of Dallas is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.