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Home Department of World Languages and Literatures Spanish Spanish Success Stories

Success Stories

Hear from students who have completed their M.A. in Spanish at The University of Memphis.

  1. Harriette Skupin: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 1972. She has taught at the University of Memphis as a Spanish instructor since 1992. She has also taught at Inmmaculate Conception High School, Munford High School, Lausanne, and within Memphis City Schools.
  2. José Manuel Upegui: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 1977. He currently works for Kone, Inc. as a customer based risk management-director.
  3. Patricia Freire: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in fall 1980. She has taught Spanish at Christian Brothers High School since 1982. She is currently the chair of the Department of Foreign Languages at CBHS.
  4. Susan Mallory: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 1985. She created a Spanish tutoring business which served many public and private school students. Currently, Susan is pursuing a MFA in creative writing at Spalding University. She is now submitting her poetry for publication.
  5. Carla Martinez: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 1995. She has taught for many years as a Spanish instructor at the University of Memphis. She has also worked for Memphis City Schools in the ESL department. Carla has served as director of the study abroad program in Costa Rica and Spain since 2004.
  6. Karla Lopez: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 1995. She worked for three years at Elmhurst College and Harper College in Chicago. Karla also worked in marketing for Motorola, NBC6 (Miami, Florida) and Kaplan University. since 2007 she has worked for the American Intercontinental University in Weston, Florida as director of marketing. Currently, she is a director of marketing at a regional level including universities in Florida, Houston and Atlanta. Karla is planning to start her MBA this year.
  7. Julie Glosson: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 1995. She was hired the same year as a Spanish instructor at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. She pursued a Doctor of Education degree at the University of Memphis which she obtained in 2002 with a specialization in instruction and curriculum leadership. She has taught for sixteen years at Union University where she is currently a full time professor. In addition to her teaching Spanish courses she supervises students pursuing their education in French, Spanish and ESL. She has also implemented a program abroad in Costa Rica. Julie is a member of the American Council for Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL); the Tennessee Foreign Language Teaching Association (TFLTA); and the American Association for Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) .Furthermore, Julie is currently a program reviewer for ACTFL/NCATE National Foreign Language Accreditation and board member of TFLTA.
  8. Barry Jason Mcwhirter: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish 1997. Barry received the Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis and went to Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law 2001. He is an immigration attorney and owner at the McWhirter Law Firm. He is also on the board of directors within the Memphis Bar Association since 2007. McWhirter is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 2002.
  9. Francisca Co: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 1997. Francisca was an assistant professor at the University of Memphis library until 2000. She currently works as a senior librarian at the New York Public Library.
  10. Rosa Maria Aastillo: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 1999. While pursuing her MA she taught Spanish at the campus school and was appointed as a research assistant. Rosa was a full-time Spanish instructor and academic undergraduate advisor at the University of Memphis between 1999 and 2002. She currently lives in Seattle, WA where she has taught Spanish at Bellevue College since 2002.
  11. Fatima Regina Nogueira: PhD in Romance Languages- Spanish in May 2000. Fatima completed a PhD in Spanish and Portuguese at Vanderbilt University in May 2007. Currently, she is an assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of Memphis. She has published extensively on the topic of Latin American literature.
  12. Dora Berry:  MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in May 2000. Currently, she is a full-time instructor of Spanish at the University of Memphis. She has organized and directed language workshops for the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at the University of Memphis. She is also pursuing a Doctorate in Education in the area of instruction and curriculum leadership.
  13. Jennifer Johnston: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2001. She taught at Hutchison School for nine years. Since 2010 she has been a Spanish instructor at the University of Memphis.
  14. Alvaro Torres Calderon: Is a native from Lima, Perú. He received his degree in Law and Political Sciences at the Universidad de Lima. He went on to earn a MA degree in Romance Languages- Spanish from the University of Memphis in 2002 and his Doctorate in Spanish from the Florida State University in 2006. His specialization is on 19th and 20th century Latin American Literature, and he is currently working on the narrative of Clorinda Matto de Turner and Juana Manuela Gorriti. He is an assistant professor of Spanish at North Georgia College & State university. He is the director of Foreign Language Day at NGCSU, an event that has been in Place for 36 years. He serves as co-director of the Spanish Summer Language Institute, a successful language immersion program that was started in 2010. He was faculty advisor of LASO (Latino American Student Organization) for four years since its creation in 2007. He participated in the publication of the book Alejo Carpentier Ante la Crítica, Caracas: Monte Avila, 2005 with his article Alejo Carpentier y el Hombre Fronterizo: Una Constante en el Reino de Este Mundo. He recently published his book of poems Claroscuro, Lima: Línea Andina 2010. He published his poem “Spells” at the Stonepile Writers Anthology. Dahlonega. North Georgia College and State University Oress in Nov. 2010. He is in the process of having an article published in the Literary Journal Tinta Expresa. The title is Nación, Identidad y Frontera en la Prosa de Clorinda Matto de Turner. Dr. Torres-Calderón has participated in several national and international literary conferences as well as interviews on Peruvian newspapers and a radio presentation of his creative work (December 2010). He is enthusiastic in teaching as well as in the performing arts. He has performed and assisted in many theatrical plays that have given him the opportunity to interact with the community and the university. His interests include Integration Law, Latin- American Female Writers of the 19th century, José Martí, and Latin American Civilization.
  15. Sonja Luecke: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2002. Sonja also obtained a Masters degree in Journalism. She has worked as a specialist in public relations for Youth Villages and has reached the rank of Senior Public Relations Coordinator. Sonja is also a freelance writer and photographer for the Commercial Appeal. She has taught Spanish at the University of Memphis, Christian Brothers University and Southwest Tennessee Community College.
  16. Miranda Amaral: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2002. She taught Spanish K-5 at Plantation Elementary School in Tavernier, Florida. Miranda has also taught at Treadwell Ementary School and Germanshire Elementary in Memphis. She is planning to move to San Antonio, Texas and work there for an elementary school which offers Spanish intensive courses.
  17. Barbara Finney: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2002. MA in English with a concentration in ESL.. She currently teaches at Riverwood Elementary School. She also teaches K-5 ESL.
  18. Sara Cepeda:  BA in 2002. Major in Foreign Languages- Spanish. MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in August 2004. Currently, she is a full-time instructor of Spanish at the University of Memphis.
  19. Fabian Balmori: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2004. Fabian is a Venezuelan who was born in Galicia, Spain. He obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1995. In 2008, Fabian completed a PHD In Spanish from Florida State University, with an emphasis in XIX and XX Century Latin American Poetry. His dissertation focused on the poetry of José Lezama Lima. Fabian has publications in literary criticism as well as in creative writing. He has taught at Ferrum College in Virginia. Currently, he is an assistant professor of Spanish at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama.
  20. Stephanie Finch:  BA in Foreign Languages- Spanish in 2006. Stephanie took courses in a study aborad program in Costa Rica.  MA in romance languages- Spanish in December 2008. Stephanie has worked for the Social Security Administration.
  21. Haider Al-Kabi: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2006. Haider began a Doctoral program in English Literatuire and Cultural Studies in 2009. He has translated both literary works and critical essays from English into Arabic including chapter one of Sylvia Plath's novel The Bell Jar. He was the guest editor of Atlanta Review's special issue about the poetry of iraq 2007. He also translated Octavio paz's poem "Hablo de la Ciudad? from Spanish into Arabic.
  22. Melissa Stephens: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in May 2006. She taught at Poplar Bluff High School in Missouri between 2006-2007. She was a Spanish instructor at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro between 2007-2008. Currently, Melissa teaches Spanish and serves as chair of the Department of Modern Foreign Languages at the Mineral Area College in Park Hills, Missouri.
  23. Joanna Kendall: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in December 2007. She taught English as a second language in Quito, Ecuador at the Escuela Politecnica Nacional from 2007 to 2008. She has taught Spanish at Lausanne Collegiate School and at the University of Memphis. She is pursuing a Juris Doctor degree a the University of Memphis. Her knowledge of Spanish was instrumental to work in Inmigration laws. Joanna has worked at the Frager Law office which specializes in immigration. She will complete her degree in law in may 2012.
  24. Romar Rodríguez-León:  MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in May 2008. Currently, she is a full-time instructor of Spanish at the University of Memphis. She is also pursuing a PHD. In history at the University of Memphis
  25. Lainey Lunsford:  MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2008. She currently teaches at Lausanne Collegiate School.
  26. Roberto E. Weiss:  MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in December 2009. He taught as an adjunct instructor of Spanish at the University of Memphis and Rhodes University. He is currently pursuing a PHD in the field of Latin American Literature at the University of Florida.
  27. Marcus Luno:  BA in 2007. MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in December 2009. Has worked in secondary education for Memphis City Schools.
  28. Marquita Torres: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2009. She also completed her BA in Spanish and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Memphis. She taught Spanish  for two years as a graduate assistant in the department of Foreign Languages at the University of Memphis. Currently, she teaches Spanish at a high school in Atlanta, Georgia.
  29. Antonio Parrilla- Recuero:  MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in December 2009. He is currently pursuing a PHD in Iberian, Film and Media studies. He is also an associate instructor of Spanish at Indiana University- Bloomington.
  30. Hafife Montgomery:  BA in 2005. Major in Foreign Languages- German and Spanish. MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in may 2009. She taught as an adjunct instructor of Spanish at the University of Memphis. She is currently pursuing a PHD in History at the University of Memphis.
  31. Valeria A. Roy:  BA in 2007 in Foreign Languages- Spanish and English as a Second Language. MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in May 2010. She is currently and adjunct instructor of Spanish at the University of Memphis and Rhodes University.
  32. Kathy Trammell Scruggs: Received her BA from the University of Texas, austin in 1974. MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2011. She has taught Spanish at the University of Memphis and at St. George's Independent School where she created the lower school Foreign Language program (pk-6). She has volunteered for the American Field Service as an interpreter and translator. She is a bilingual teacher and ESL  teacher. Kathy has also worked as a Spanish and Italian medical interpreter and language instructor for medical personnel at the Texas Heart Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, St  Luke's Episcopal Hospital, and Texas Medical Center in Houston.
  33. Isadora Belmonte: Her bachelor's degree is in Law from University of Salvador- Unifacs in brazil. MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2011. She has worked as an attorney at the Nunes Fernandes Abogados in Salvador, Bahia, in Toledo Piza Abogados in Sao Paulo, and in Suffredini & Checcucci Abogadas in Salvador Bahia. Isadora taught flamenco for two years in Salvador, Bahia. She has taught Spanish as a graduate assistant and is planning to continue to teach Spanish at the University of Memphis as an adjunct instructor. She is also considering pursuing a PHD in education at the University of Memphis.
  34. Tania Traller: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2011. Tania was appointed as a research assistant while pursuing her masters. In this capacity she assisted Spanish majors and minors taking upper-division courses. She is planning to work in the education field.
  35. Susan Mahoney:  She is currently pursuing her MA in romance languages- Spanish. Susan graduated Magna Cum Laude from Washington and Lee  University in Lexington, Virginia with a BA in Romance Languages and Political Sciences in 2009. She was a member of the honor society Phi Eta Sigma. At Washington and Lee University she was the captain of the swimming team (2008-2009) and beat the record in the 200 individual medley and 200 breastroke. Susan is pursuing her MA, teaching Spanish at St. Mary's Episcopal School, coaching the swim team, and serves as an assistant to the director of communications.
  36. Rosa Carter: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2010. Rosa is from EL Salvador. She also studied at the university of North Carolina in Wilmington where she graduated with a degree in Spanish in 1997. She taught Spanish at public schools in North Carolina until 2004. Between 2004 and 2010 she taught Spanish at Memphis City Schools. Since 2011 she has been teaching Spanish at Hutchinson School.
  37. Mary Sood: MA in Romance Languages- Spanish in 2011. She currently teaches  Spanish at St. Mary's Catholic School and at Faith Homeschool Tutorial in Jackson, Tennessee. She is also a community relations manager for the Jackson- Madison County Library. She has been a public relation specialist and communications director for various organizations and businesses including the American Cancer Society. Mary has served as a teen sponsor for Jack and Jill of America and as a public relations liaison for the Links, Incorporated. She is an advisory council member for the Jackson Sun's West Tennessee Parent & Family Magazine and is a member of the Jackson Symphony Board.