Department of Spanish and Portuguese at The Ohio State University

05/27/2026

Attending Orientation? Let’s connect!

We are hosting an Open House on the second day of orientation. Come and get all your questions answered. Use the QR code in the photo below to RSVP.

Information and Registration can also be accessed at this link: https://sppo.osu.edu/prospective-students

05/26/2026

Our graduate student, Víctor Vimos Vimos, defended his PhD dissertation “Parlakunanchikkama/Nos hablamos: Ritual Relations Between Humans and Mountains During the Period of Political Violence in Peru (1980–2000)” successfully, Monday, May 11, 2026. The committee made up of Prof. Ulises Juan Zevallos-Aguilar (advisor), Prof. Fernando Unzueta, Prof. Michelle Wibbelsman, as well Prof. Jorge Coronado (Northwestern University) commended this interdisciplinary work, which brings together anthropology and literature to trace relationships between species amidst conflict. They also recommended its publication as a book after doing necessary adjustments.

Dr. Vimos will continue his professional journey at the International Institute of Social History (IISG) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where he will conduct research on Andean Messianism and the Ritualization of violence.

Our very best wishes to Dr. Vimos in your new journey. Let's congratulate him.

05/22/2026

Congrats to our Arts and Sciences students for receiving Goldwater Scholarships! The Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program recognizes students for their commitment to scientific research.

Cindy An, majoring in neuroscience and psychology with a minor in statistics
Ruby Mitchell, majoring in chemistry with a minor in Spanish
Aatmaj Rajesh, majoring in physics with a minor in mathematics

Read more: https://bit.ly/3RnT8js

Department of Spanish and Portuguese at The Ohio State University
Physics at The Ohio State University

05/20/2026

A Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad grant supported Department of Spanish and Portuguese at The Ohio State University faculty member Anna Babel’s study of Bolivian migrants in Spain, focusing on how migrants perceive differences between Bolivian Spanish and European varieties of Spanish.

“Because I work with adults who maintain aspects of their own identities, it’s interesting to see how we adapt — or don’t adapt — to new social and linguistic categories and expectations that we encounter through the experience of international migration,” Babel said.

“The funding provided by Fulbright-Hays was essential in carrying out this research, which could not have been completed without this support,” she said. She is now transcribing and analyzing the interviews as the project moves into its next phase.

Exchange Programs - U.S. Department of State
Arts and Sciences at Ohio State
https://oia.osu.edu/news/2026/05/18/fulbright-hays-grant-supports-babels-migrant-interview-research?utm_campaign=oia_marketing-activity_fy26&utm_content=1779300481&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

05/18/2026

SPPO interdisciplinary initiative on Indigenous Latin America and Sustainable Environments wins Sustainability Institute Research Grant!!

Research Team: Michelle Wibbelsman, Associate Professor, Spanish and Portuguese; Bryan Mark, Professor, Geography/Byrd; Jo Peacock, Assistant Professor, SENR; Amy Youngs, Associate Professor, Art; Emma Kline, Lab Specialist, Art; Maria Jose Iturralde and Daniel Bryan with Pachaysana Foundation (external)

Read more about this amazing accomplishment on our website: https://sppo.osu.edu/news/sppo-interdisciplinary-initiative-indigenous-latin-america-and-sustainable-environments-wins

05/14/2026

On May 9th we had our Graduation and Awards Ceremony 🎓

Congrats to all of our 2026 Graduates, PhD's, and Masters! A wonderful celebration that not only recognizes our students but our staff and professors as well, with special awards going to Eugenia Romero for her service and Ana Carolina Dos Santos for her excellence in Second Language Teaching & Learning!! 🌟

We also had the pleasure to welcome SPPO Graduate Nicolette Leon, who shared wonderful memories of her time at Ohio State, accomplishments of which there are many, and an inspiring speech to our graduates.
Evan Beard, the President of the Spanish and Portuguese club closed out our ceremony with his own special memories and high regards to the program that shaped these 4 years.

Without the help of these wonderful people taking their time to spend Saturday morning with us we could not have had such a successful 25-26 Ceremony. A Special thanks to Mitchell Multimedia Photography for photos and Rachel Sanabria for all her work planning this event.

We are so grateful to be able to celebrate everyone's hard work, THANK YOU class of 2026 for sharing these moments and last 4 years with us. We wish you all the best!!

05/12/2026

Think you know Brazil? Think again 🇧🇷

Explore Carnival, cinema, memes, the Amazon, and global conversations in PORT 2330: Introduction to Brazilian Culture — taught in English and open to all students. No prior knowledge required!
Fulfills multiple GE requirements

More info on SPPO Website: https://sppo.osu.edu/news/think-you-know-brazil-think-again

05/12/2026

Congrats Jean Carlos!🎉

RMCLAS congratulates Jean Carlos Carniel at the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at The Ohio State University for winning the "Adrian Bantjes Best Graduate Student Paper" for his paper “La violencia de género y la resistencia: lo gótico en A Fabre, de Marcelo Ferroni, y La Hostería, de Mariana Enríquez.”

We also want to congratulate Brianna Matson at UCSC History for earning an Honorable Mention for her paper “Unmasking the Madonna: Joan Baez and the Politics of Guadalupean Imagery in UFW Protest.”

05/01/2026

In April, the Department of Spanish & Portuguese welcomed our community partners to campus to thank them for their continued support. Their collaboration allows our students to practice Spanish in real-world contexts while engaging in high-impact learning that extends beyond the classroom. We are truly grateful to our community partners for making this learning possible: Bread of Life Food Pantry, Columbus City Schools, CRIS, CRIS Community Connectors at OSU, Dominican Learning Center, Law Office of Liliana Ivette Vasquez, Martin de Porres Center, Mt. Carmel Street Medicine, Proyecto Mariposas, and Rising Youth.