What’s New in the School
Say hello to our new Director, Carmen R. Lugo-Lugo!
Carmen R. Lugo-Lugo
Our mission, values, and goals are upheld and supported by the faculty, staff, and our director, Dr. Carmen R. Lugo-Lugo. A professor in Comparative Ethnic Studies and American Studies, Lugo-Lugo teaches about the history of gender, race, class, sexuality, privilege, and unequal resource distribution. She cultivates discussions in the classroom about how those things affect society and the individuals. Read the director’s update to learn more.
A Big Thank You to Ana María Rodríguez-Vivaldi and JT Hughes!
We would like to thank the former chairs of the Department of Critical Culture, Gender, and Race Studies and the Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures, Ana Maria Rodriguez-Vivaldi and Jolyon (JT) Hughes, respectively. Without them, the formation of and transition to the new school could not have happened as seamlessly as it did.
JT Hughes
After four years of service as chair of the former Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures, JT Hughes took a position as associate dean in the College of Arts and Humanities at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia. We wish him the best in his endeavors!
Ana María Rodríguez-Vivaldi
After two years of service as acting chair of the former Department of Critical Culture, Gender, and Race Studies, Ana María Rodríguez-Vivaldi returned to her duties as an associate professor of Spanish and Film Studies and her role as associate dean of Student Affairs and Global Education in the CAS Dean’s Office.
Staff Changes
Daniel Liera-Huchim
After over two years of service to the former Department of Foreign Languages and Cultures and the School of Languages, Cultures, and Race, we said goodbye to staff member Daniel Liera-Huchim. He joined our team as an Office Assistant 3 in July 2016 and worked his way up to program coordinator before departing for the Community Council of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho, at the end of October. We wish Daniel all the best as he moves to be closer to family. Take a look at our farewell party photo album.
Melissa Bills
In late October we welcomed Melissa Bills to our team. She comes to us with previous WSU and finance experience and will serve as our fiscal technician 3 working alongside Ben Weller in Avery Hall. She looks forward to meeting faculty, staff, and students from different places. Welcome, Melissa!
Cassandra Gulam
In January, Cassandra Gulam’s rank of senior instructor of Spanish was converted to Clinical Associate Professor of Spanish. Congratulations Cassandra! She is also a Program Leader in WSU-Vancouver.
New Interns
We welcomed new interns from the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication in August. For the first time since we started our intern program with the Murrow College three years ago, our interns were hired for specific duties instead of just social media. In the Fall semester, Mariah was our journalism intern who focused solely on writing, and Ashley was our our advertising and marketing intern who focused solely on promoting our school. Currently, we have still have Mariah, our journalism intern, and now Becca, our advertising and marketing intern. Welcome Ashley, Mariah, and Becca!
Ashley Clark
In Fall of 2018, Ashley, our advertising and marketing intern, graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. Integrated Strategic Communication. After a semester of intern experience with SLCR, Ashley looks forward to gaining additional experience in the Pullman-area work field and begin the process of achieving her masters. Congratulations, Ashley!
Mariah Inman
Mariah is a junior majoring in Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Comparative Ethnic Studies. This summer, she hopes to study abroad in Europe. After she graduates, she plans to write for a travel magazine.
Japanese Program opens new instructor position
Japanese Instructor Kayo Niimi (right) and SLCR Director Carmen Lugo-Lugo (center) accepted a $30,000 salary-assistance grant from the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles, presented by Yoko Yanagimoto. Niimi has received three previous grants from JFLA: two for $1,000 and another for $700. The previous grants helped supply textbooks and other materials for her courses and funding for a community comedy performance by a world-renowned Rakugo artist. The new salary assistance grant will allow for a part-time teaching position of Japanese culture courses. It also will help foster new ways to expand students’ knowledge of Japanese history, culture, and language. Read more about this achievement.
SPAN 208 offered for the first time at WSU Tri-cities campus
Both, Dr. José Francisco Serratos and Spanish Instructor Olga Borges, are developing the Spanish program at WSU-Tri Cities, while connecting with the community. For the first time in WSU Tri-cities history, SPAN 208 is now offered and taught by José Francisco and Olga. SPAN 208 was created by Dr. Francisco Manzo-Robledo and is intended to serve the growing community of Spanish and Native Spanish speakers. The Spanish program offers a variety of advanced film and culture courses for our minors.
American Studies Ph.D program moratorium lifted
On Oct. 29, the moratorium of American Studies Ph.D program was lifted because SLCR gained significant student support, doctoral training faculty to support students in the program, and Dr. Mary Bloodsworth-Lugo, CES and American Studies professor and graduate director of American Studies, who can oversee the program. Before Oct. 29, the former Department of Critical Culture, Gender, and Race Studies lost a teaching assistant due to budget cuts, which caused loss of financial support to incoming graduate students to the American Studies Ph.D program. Support was recently acquired for the program and SLCR is now accepting applications for the Fall 2019 American Studies Ph.D program. Learn more about this application.