Our Graduates

Graduated in December 2018

Michael Dioguardi

Hometown: Kirkwood, NY
Area of interest/specialization: Spanish language literature and film. Peninsular literature.
Relevant professional experience: High School teacher – Binghamton High School
Current position: High School teacher – Binghamton High School
Most important contribution of the MA: The entire scope of the language from its inception to today through literature and film.
Fun anecdote: I read Yo el Supremo in one sitting, on a Sunday. I stopped only to eat and use the bathroom. It took me 16 hours. Ironically, it was a one of my favorite books during the semester.

Cristina Nava-Wilson

Hometown: Vestal, NY
Area of interest/Specialization: Spanish for Heritage Speakers
Relevant professional experience: Teacher of Spanish for Heritage Speakers and English speakers, in private and public schools (Kindergarten level to college)
Current Position: Adjunct Lecturer at Binghamton University.
Most Important contribution of MA: Pedagogic, linguistic and cultural knowledge to further understand how heritage speakers learn their language and second languages.
Fun anecdote: For a creative project presentation, my group talked about the impact of the Salsa music in NY City. The next group, danced Salsa. They were professional dancers who had won several competitions in NY. At the end of their presentation, I told my teammates "I am so glad we did not dance!", and we all laughed at once.

Glenmarie Green González

Hometown: Vestal, NY
Area of interest/specialization: Spanish language, literature and film.
Relevant professional experience: Middle school teacher – East Middle School
Current position: Middle school teacher – East Middle School, Adjunct Lecturer- ��Ƶ
The most important contribution of the MA: It allowed me to expand my knowledge of the Spanish language through literature and films by exploring different time periods, genres, and their influences in society.
Fun anecdote: I forgot to read Cien años de Soledad over the winter break and spent the last two days of it reading, taking minimal brakes and eating quickly to be prepared for class the following day. It was very intense, but I managed to do it!

Graduated in May 2020

KERRI FREESE

Hometown: Cortland, NY
Area of interest/specialization: Spanish language literature and education
Relevant professional experience: International Marketing
Current Position: Transitioning careers.
In December 2019 my friend texted saying a local school district needed a long-term substitute Spanish teacher. Based on my experience at BU, I was hired on the spot and subsequently spent three months teaching Junior High students, both in class and then online due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I enjoyed it so much I am going to pursue a new career in education.
Most important contribution of the MA: The content provided an introduction to exciting genres, social and cultural issues, teaching and research methods, and academic writing from experts in their respective fields. I was able to teach two undergraduate Spanish courses at ��Ƶ and presented a paper at the Boston University Romance Studies Graduate Student Conference. I was also able to study for a year in Spain at the University of Salamanca and get credit towards my degree.
Fun anecdote: My classes in Spain were held in the most gorgeous centuries-old building that housed the philology department. They met in different rooms depending on the day of the week. One day, I arrived just as the professor started to talk. I did not recognize the professor; I figured the regular one was at a conference or something, and that he was just filling in. The moment I sat down, the class suddenly got really silent and the professor started to read a poem. I thought to myself, “I don’t think we are studying poetry,” and realized my class was in the other room that day. But I was stuck. You could literally hear a pin drop; there was no way I could leave without making a scene. The poem seemed to go on for an eternity. Finally, the room broke out into applause and I gave the professor a “I am totally in the wrong room, must-get-out” look. He returned an understanding nod, and I quickly left.

Katie Norona

Hometown: Mineola, NY
Area of interest/specialization: Spanish language literature and education
Relevant professional experience: Graduate Assistant for the Spanish department under the Clifford D. Clark Fellowship
Current position: Transitioning careers. I am currently an assistant manager at Mineola Family Pharmacy, but am looking to pursue a career in teaching at the High School level.
Most important contribution of the MA: The growth of knowledge about Latin American literature, history and culture. As well as the fundamental understanding between how heritage speakers and second language speakers learn languages.
Fun anecdote: My final paper for linguistics was worth 40% of my grade and we had been preparing our research for months. I chose to do Language Maintenance of the Quechua language in the Andean region. I was 11 out of the 15 page minimum when my computer died and the auto save had stopped working because the memory was at full capacity. Once I recharged it my computer I only had 3 pages of what I had written. After a small meltdown I rewrote the whole paper which ended up being 21 pages long in 3 days. It was by far my hardest but most passionate paper I have ever written and I got an A.

KALINDI NASLUND

Hometown: Vestal, NY
Area of interest/specialization: Latin American culture and film, translation, and foreign language pedagogy.
Relevant professional experience: International Bilingual Communications Director (Costa Rica); English Teaching Assistant (Spain)
Current position: High school Spanish teacher (Vestal High School)
Most important contribution of the MA: I took a class with Dr. Ros during which we translated children’s fairy tales from Spanish to English. I excelled in the class and then was offered the opportunity to work with Dr. Ros again to translate three additional children’s books. The two semesters working on the translations helped me learn more about myself: I learned that I love grammar, editing, and translating. I am now looking for part-time job opportunities in literary translation and transcreation. We are currently waiting for the twelve translations to be published in Spain!
Fun anecdote: The first time I went to Spain I didn’t get off the train at the end of the line (in Valencia), even though that was my final destination. All the announcements were in Catalan and I didn’t understand what was being said, so I stayed in my seat. I made it halfway back to Barcelona before the conductor saw me and questioned why I never got off. He stopped the train, wrote me a note to give to the conductor on the next train. He told me to wait for the next train, which was due to arrive thirty minutes later. Some older women started laughing at me when I got off the train. When the train pulled out of the station I started laughing at myself for fulfilling the “dumb American” stereotype. I never told my host parents why I arrived late on my first day in Spain, and I still laugh at myself for being that "dumb American" in a foreign country.

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