Faculty Profiles

Dr. Jill Gibian

Ackerman 202D
jgibian@eou.edu
541-962-3742

Education:

• Ph.D. in Comparative Literature/Latin American Studies, Binghamton University (SUNY), 1990

Biography:

Dr. Jill Gibian, grew up primarily in New York State about an hour away from New York City.  She earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature/Latin American Studies from Binghamton University (SUNY Binghamton) in 1990. She has been teaching all levels of Spanish as a second language at Eastern Oregon University since 1985 along with classes in Latin American and Chicanx literature, culture, translation and film studies.  She is passionate about Latin American music and dance, in general, and has been chasing the Argentine tango, in particular,  both academically through her investigations on ¨tango literature¨ as well as through dance workshops in the region and abroad.  

Publications:

• Gibian Jill. Argentina : A Traveler’s Literary Companion. Berkeley, Ca: Whereabouts Press, 2010
• “Tango-Lit:  Parodies of Passion¨ (anthology of tango literature, in progress)

Research interests:

• 20th and 21st Latin American Literature and Culture
• Pedagogy
• Gender Studies
• Literary Translation
• Film Studies
• Chicanx Literature

Dr. Sandra Nava Nieto

Ackerman Hall 102
snavanieto@eou.edu
541-962-3501

Education:

• B.A. in Translation and Interpreting, Universidad de Valladolid (Spain), 2016
• M.A. in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language, Universidad Menéndez Pelayo (Spain), 2019
• M.A. in Hispanic Studies, University of Kentucky, 2019
• Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies, University of Kentucky, 2022

Biography:

Dr. Sandra Nava Nieto, born in Leon, Spain, earned her M.A. in Hispanic Studies from the University of Kentucky in 2019, as well as a M.A. in Teaching Spanish as a Second Language from Universidad Menéndez Pelayo in 2019. She has earned her Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from University of Kentucky in 2022. Her specialization is in 20th and 21st Peninsular Spanish literature. She came to Eastern Oregon University in 2022 as a Senior Instructor II. During her time at EOU, she is working on developing a Certificate in Translation and Interpreting as well as a Certificate in Spanish for the Professions.

Publications:

• Cortés, David and Nava Nieto, Sandra, co-authors “Making the People. An Interview with Paulina Ochoa Espejo, Haveford College” Disclosure. Vol. 29, University of Kentucky. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/disclosure/vol29/iss1/5/ (2020)
• Nava Nieto, Sandra. “Enseñanza de la interculturalidad en estudiantes de ELE estadounidenses. El rincón de Venezuela (2005) en el aula de ELE” (work in progress)

Conferences:

• “Homosociabilidad y performatividad en el lenguaje de ‘69, Amor’ (2005) de Cristina Sánchez- Andrade” SECCLL, Savannah, GA. (2018)
• “La adaptación de las mujeres al ideal franquista durante la represión en ‘La voz dormida’ (2011) dirigida por Benito Zambrano”. Diálogos XIX. University of Indiana, Bloomington, IN. (2022)
• “El tres es un número par: triejas y caza de unicornios en ‘Castillos de Cartón’ (2004), de Almudena Grandes”. VI The Chicago Graduate Conference. Chicago, IL. (2022)

What does teaching Spanish mean to me:

Teaching Spanish is a job that has allowed me to experience different cultures and countries. I have lived and taught Spanish in Poland and Kentucky. Spanish is spoken in 21 countries around the world by 500 million people. Learning Spanish not only helps my students’ career, but also helps them rethink their own culture and promote critical thinking in their everyday lives. In my classes I emphasize the importance of developing intercultural competence along with strategies that will allow students to become independent learners.

Research interests:

• 20th and 21st Peninsular Spanish Literature
• Sexuality Studies
• Pedagogy
• Gender and Women’s Studies
• Translation and Interpretation (ES<>EN)