CURRICULUM VITAE
(April 28, 2014)
EDUCATION
Post-Graduate Studies
2010: Intensive Arabic Studies at Qalam wa Lawh in Rabat, Morocco
2008: Intensive Arabic Studies at Qalam wa Lawh in Rabat, Morocco
2003: Intensive Arabic Studies at the University of Utah’s Middle East Center
2002: Intensive Arabic Studies at the Arabic Language Institute in Fez (ALIF), Morocco
Graduate Studies
1995-2000: Ph.D., Spanish American Literature, University of Toronto
Doctoral Thesis: The Indigenous Presence in Rubén Darío and Ernesto Cardenal
Director: Dr. Keith Ellis
1994-95: M.A., Spanish American Literature, University of Toronto
M.A. Thesis: Indígena universal: la cosmovisión autóctona en la poesía de César Vallejo
[Universal Indian: The Amerindian Worldview in the Poetry of César Vallejo]
Director: Dr. Keith Ellis
Undergraduate Studies
1990-94: Honours B.A., Spanish / French Language and Literature, University of Toronto
Spanish Immersion Programs
1989-90: Spanish immersion throughout South America
1989: Spanish immersion program in Barcelona, Spain
Ulum al-Din
1987-present: Muqaddimat (Preliminary Studies), Sutuh (Externals), and Dars al-Kharij or Bahth alKharij (Graduate Studies)
LANGUAGES:
Native speaker of English, French, and French Michif: Native level proficiency in Spanish
Advanced Knowledge of Modern Standard Arabic / Classical Arabic
Intermediate Knowledge of Moroccan Arabic / Darijah
Reading comprehension of Latin & Romance languages
Reading knowledge of Náhualt and other indigenous languages
COMPUTERS:
Highly proficient: including e-learning, web design, Blackboard and recording studio software.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE:
Hispanic Studies / Native Studies / Islamic Studies
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
The Amerindian influence on Spanish American literature / The Arabic influence on Spanish literature /
Shi‘ism and Sufism / Arabic sociolinguistics: the Allah Lexicon and the impact of globalization on the
Arabic language / Aljamiado literature / Islam in Latin America
ACADEMIC AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS:
2012-2013: Master Teacher Certification (Ivy Tech)
2012-2013: Distinguished Faculty Member (Ivy Tech)
2008: Most Improved Student Club (Eastern New Mexico University)
2005: Student-Athletic Impact Award (Northern State University)
2005: Performance Award: Technology Center Planning Teamwork Nominee (Northern State University)
2005: Performance Award: Teamwork Nominee (Northern State University)
2000: University of Toronto Top-Up Fellowship
1995-99: University of Toronto Open Doctoral Fellowship
1994-95: University of Toronto Open Master’s Fellowship
1994: Margaret Scarth Scholarship in Spanish
1989: 3rd Place, U. of Waterloo French Poetry Competition for High School Students
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE:
2014-present: Ivy Tech
Full Professor of Foreign Languages
Fall 2011: Semester at Sea, Institute for Shipboard Education, University of Virginia
Professor of Advanced Spanish, English (World Literature: Ibn Battuta), and Cultural Studies in Islam
2010-2014: Ivy Tech
Associate Professor of Foreign Languages
2009-2010: MSU
Coordinator, Department of Foreign Languages
Associate Professor of Foreign Languages
2008-2009: ENMU
Associate Professor of Languages and Literature
2004-2008: NSU
Assistant Professor of Modern Languages
2001-2004: Park U
Assistant Professor of Modern Languages
1996-1998: U of Toronto
Adjunct Spanish Instructor / Teaching Assistant
1995: Ryerson Polytechnic U
Teaching Assistant
VISITING RESEARCHER:
2010: Harvard U
2009: U of Toronto
2008: Libraries and Archives throughout Spain
2008: U of Chicago & Purdue U
2003: U of Utah
GRADUATE FACULTY STATUS:
2009-2010: MSU
2008-2009: ENMU
2004-2008: NSU
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
2011-present: Quality Counseling and Psychological Services: Director
2006: Education Assistance Corporation: Spanish Instructor
2004-2008: Upper Plains Contracting, Inc.: translator/interpreter
2001-2002: Able Translations Ltd., Translator/interpreter
1995-1997: TK Communications + D&D, Translator & Interpreter
1995-1996: Spanish and Portuguese Graduate Students’ Association of U. of T: President
1995-1996: Peter Bell Library, Curator
1995: Abraxis International Inc, Adm. Assistant to the Vice President
1995: SmithKline Beecham Pharma, Bilingual Customer Service Rep.
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT:
2013-2014: Diversity Committee / Academic Affairs and Student Affairs Committee / Advisor to Spanish
Club
2012-2013: FLTA Committee / FLTA Supervisor / Supervisor for Adjuncts / Faculty Recognition
Committee
2011-2012: FLTA Committee
2010-2011: FLTA Committee / Supervisor for Adjuncts / Textbook Selection Committee
2009-2010: Head of the Department of Foreign Languages / P&P Committee
2001-2010: Academic Advisor / Director of Spanish Club
2009: Director: Spanish Immersion Program
2009: Elected to the Faculty Senate
2009: Languages and Literature Senator for the Faculty Senate
2009: FEC Committee / Distance Education Focus Group
2008-2009: Co-Head of the Spanish Program, Hispanic Retention and Recruitment Committee
2007: Faculty Travel Committee
2006: Conceived and Created proposal for A.A. in Cross-Cultural Communication
2005: ESL Committee
2004-2005: Head of Spanish Program, E-Learning French Search Committee, German
Search Committee, Scholarship Committee
2003-2004: Global Education
2002-2003: Global Education / Faculty Development / Secretary, Division of Humanities
2002: Offered Chair of Modern Languages at Park University
2001-2002: Faculty Evaluation Committee
ACADEMIC SERVICE
Member of the Advisory Board of the Journal of Shi‘a Islamic Studies since 2011
Member of the Editorial Board Analecta Literaria: Revista de Letras, Ideas, Arte y Sociedad from 2008 to
2011
Director of IANEIT: Instituto Argentino-Norteamericano de Estudios Iranologicos y Turcologicos from
2008 to 2001
Researcher for CEAMAS: Centro de Estudios Africanos Magrebies y Subsaharianos from 2008 to 2011
Member of the Review Board for Filum Ariadnae from 2008 to 2011
Peer-Reviewer for the Revista Canadiense de Estudios Hispánicos since 2009
M.Ed. thesis committee member at Northern State University from 2007-2008
Manuscript reviewer for the Edwin Mellen Press since 2008
Reviewer for the Humanities Journal since 2006
Organizer of the 16th Annual Levy-Wasteneys Symposium which took place on March 2, 1996, in Toronto,
Canada
Member of the Editorial Committee for Tinta y sombra from 1994-1995, 1995-1996, and 1996-1997
Served as a judge for the District 8 Oral Interpretation Tournament on November 8 th, 2006.
Served on the evaluative review panel for Theresa Skinner’s presentation on “Jihad” at Oak ParkHigh
School in Kansas City in 2004.
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
2001-present: Translating, Interpreting, Editing
2011: Assessment of Spanish and French Adjuncts
2009: Coordinated and Participated in the Festival Románico
2006-present: Coordinating Spanish Language Courses for Adjuncts
2005-2008: Arabic, French, Spanish Interpreter for the Fifth Circuit Court, SD
2006: Pro-Bono Promotional Speaker: Raised $25,000.00 for social service initiatives
2006: Teaching Spanish for Student Loan Corporation
2006: Completed the Faculty Survey of Student Engagement for the University of Indiana
2005: Developed 9 Extended Studies courses
2005: Translated The Inmate’s Handbook into Spanish for the Brown County Sheriff’s Dept.
2005: Interpreted for Mexican construction workers at UPCI Conference
2003-present: Correspondent for various newspapers
2002-2003: Evaluative Review Panel, Oak Park High School
2001-2002: Interpreted for Attorney General of the State of Missouri & Heritage Funeral Home
2001: Sound Engineer for “Park Jam”
UNIVERSITY COURSES:
Institute for Shipboard Education
SPAN 3010: Conversational Spanish III
RELI 1559: Introduction to Islamic Culture
ENWR 2200: Exploring the Other: The Theory and Practice of Travel Literature/Writing (The Travels of
Ibn Battuta)
Ivy Tech
SPAN 101: Elementary Spanish I
SPAN 102: Elementary Spanish II
SPAN 201: Intermediate Spanish I
FREN 101: Elementary French
FREN 102: Intermediate French II
MSU
SPAN 101: Introductory Spanish I
SPAN 201: Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 340: Spanish Conversation and Composition
SPAN 202: Intermediate Spanish II
SPAN 220: Hispanic Cinema
SPAN 342: Introduction to Hispanic Literature
SPAN 344: Latin American Culture
ENMU
FREN 101: Beginning French I
FREN 102: Beginning French II
SPAN 101: Beginning Spanish I
SPAN 102: Beginning Spanish II
SPAN 311: Spanish Conversation and Composition
SPAN 331: Survey of Latin American Literature I
SPAN 332: Survey of Latin American Literature II
SPAN 492 / 591: Spanish Seminar: Latin American Literature / Rubén Darío (M.A. level)
NSU
Spanish 1: E-Learning
SPAN 101: Introductory Spanish I
SPAN 102: Introductory Spanish II
SPAN 201: Intermediate Spanish I
SPAN 202: Intermediate Spanish II
SPAN 311: Integrated Writing, Conversation, and Grammar I
SPAN 312: Integrated Writing, Conversation, and Grammar II
SPAN 350: Spanish for Business Communication
SPAN 353: Introduction to Spanish Literature I
SPAN 354: Introduction to Spanish Literature II
SPAN 433: Spanish Culture and Civilization
School of Extended Studies: NSU
SPAN 311: Integrated Writing, Conversation and Grammar I
SPAN 312: Integrated Writing, Conversation and Grammar II
SPAN 350: Spanish for Business Communication
SPAN 353: Introduction to Spanish Literature I
SPAN 354: Introduction to Spanish Literature II
SPAN 355: Introduction to Latin American Literature I
SPAN 356: Introduction to Latin American Literature II
SPAN 433: Spanish Civilization and Culture
MFL 420: K-12 Foreign Language Methods
Park U
SP 101: Elementary Spanish I
SP 102: Elementary Spanish II
SP 202: Intermediate Spanish II
SP 312: Culture and Civilization of Spanish America
SP 301: Advanced Spanish Conversation: Cinema
SP 302: Advanced Composition, Conversation and Grammar
SP 311: Culture and Civilization of Spain
SP 394: Introduction to the Literature of Spain
U of T
SP 100 Y: Introduction to Spanish
Ryerson U
ENT 526: Global Entrepreneurship
STUDY ABROAD / IMMERSION EXPERIENCE
2010-2011: Professor for the University of Virginia’s Semester at Sea Program, guiding students in
Canada, Morocco, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, Japan,
Hawaii, Costa Rica, Panama, and Cuba.
2010-2011: Led the following Faculty Directed Practicum for the Semester at Sea Program: Visit to
Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco / Full-Day Trip to Rabat, Morocco / Visit to Jummah Mosque
in Mauritius / Temples and Mosques in Penang, Malaysia / Essence of Costa Rica
2010-2011: Spearheaded the application to bring Foreign Language Teaching Assistants to Ivy Tech
2009-2010: Spearheaded the application to bring Foreign Language Teaching Assistants to MSU
2008-2009: Acted as Director of Spanish Study-Abroad Program for ENMU. Directed the Spanish
immersion program in the summer of 2011, taking students to Albuquerque and Taos.
2004-2008: Organized study-abroad and immersion programs in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Spain, and Chile
for Spanish students at Northern State University
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MLA Convention. Boston, MA. January 2013.
Forum on Global Engagement: Diplomacy and Dialogue: A Focus on Sino-US Relations.
Aboard the MV Explorer: Boston to Montreal. August 21-25, 2011.
Spanish AP Reading. Cincinnati. June 2011.
Interfaith Colloquium. Ivy Tech. Fort Wayne, IN. March 22, 2011.
The Fourteenth Annual Fort Wayne Teaching Conference. Indiana University / Purdue
University. Fort Wayne, IN. Friday, February 25, 2011
The XXIX International Congress of the Latin American Studies Association. Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. October 6-9, 2010.
50th Anniversary Conference of the Linguistic Circle of Manitoba & North Dakota, 19592009.Grand Forks, ND. Oct. 16-17, 2009.
Conference of the South Dakota World Languages Association. Sioux Falls, SD. Oct. 20-21st,
2006.
Globalization, Communication, and Cultural Identity. The 12th International Conference.
International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies. Trinity University and University of
Rhode Island. Doubletree Hotel. San Antonio, Texas. August 2-4th, 2006.
Building a Learning-Centered Institution. Feb. 17-18, 2006. The Collaboration for the
Advancement of College Teaching & Learning., 2006. Sheraton Bloomington Hotel: Bloomington,
Minnesota.
Diversity Here and Now: Holistic and Sustainable Approaches to Multicultural Learning.
The Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching & Learning. Nov. 18-19, 2005. Sheraton
Bloomington Hotel: Bloomington, Minnesota.
The South Dakota World Languages Association 2005 Conference. Oct. 14-15th, 2005. Best
Western Ramkota Hotel. Rapid City, SD.
The Image of the Road in Literature, Media and Society. 2005 Conference of the Society for the
Interdisciplinary Study of Social Imagery. March 10-12, 2005. Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Learning through Discovery: The Power of Inquiry in the Construction of Knowledge. The
Collaboration for the Advancement of College Teaching & Learning. Nov. 19-20, 2004. Sheraton
Bloomington Hotel: Bloomington, Minnesota.
18th Annual Levy-Wasteneys Symposium. 1998. University of Toronto: Toronto, ON.
1997 Modern Languages Association Conference. December 1997. Toronto, ON.
17th Annual Levy-Wasteneys Symposium. 1997. University of Toronto: Toronto, ON.
16th Annual Levy-Wasteneys Symposium. March 2nd, 1996. University of Toronto: Toronto, ON.
FUNDING FOR SCHOLARSHIP
Received over $30,000.00 in research fund between 2001-2010.
GRANT APPLICATIONS: 2009-2010
MiddleburyCollege Scholarship / Arabic Studies: $10,000
Center for Arabic Studies Abroad /Arabic Studies: $10,000
MSU Research Grant / Aljamiado Research: $2,000 ☺
MSU Advanced Study Grant / Arabic Studies: $4,000☺
MSU Travel Grant / Hispanic Heritage: $750☺
GRANT APPLICATIONS: 2009-2010
ENMU Internal Grant Application / Aljamiado Traditions: $3,000☺
ENMU Internal Grant Application / ENMU Editorial Experience: $3,000
GRANT APPLICATIONS: 2008-2009
ENMU Internal Grant Application / ENMU Editorial Experience: $3,000
Ernesto Cardenal Conference / Amerindian Elements: $2,000☺
GRANT APPLICATIONS: 2006-2007
Program for Cultural Cooperation & Aljamiado Traditions from Spain : $6,000☺
Franklin Research Grant / Dictionary of Arabic Expressions : $6,000
GRANT APPLICATIONS: 2005-2006
SOIS Travel to Learn Grant / IAICS Conference 2006: $1,000 ☺
Modern Languages Travel Fund / IAICS Conference 2006: $70.00 ☺
GRANT APPLICATIONS: 2004-2005
Modern Languages Travel Fund / The Humanities Conference 2006: $230.00☺
Office of Instructional Services / The Collaboration Conference 2006: $800.00☺
CAS Travel Fund / The Image of the Road Conference 2005: $800.00☺
Peer Evaluation of Teaching Fund / Evaluation of Teaching Strategies : $300.00
Nora Staael Summer Research Stipend / The Allah Lexicon: Sociolinguistic Study: $4000.00
NSU Summer Research Stipend / The Allah Lexicon: Sociolinguistic Study : $5000.00☺
Office of Instructional Services / The Collaboration Conference 2005: $800.00☺
American Philosophical Society & The Allah Lexicon: Sociolinguistic Study : $4000.00
Franklin Research Grant / NEH: The Allah Lexicon: Sociolinguistic Study: $20,000.00
NSU Faculty Development Travel Funds / The Image of the Road Conference: $400.00
Program for Cultural Cooperation & Spanish Ministery of Ed. / Juan Goytisolo Interview: $2000.00
GRANT APPLICATIONS: 2002-2003
Park University: $2000.00☺
Faculty Development Endowed Fund Program for Cultural Cooperation & Moroccan Morisco
Project: $800.00
GRANT APPLICATIONS: 2001-2002
ParkUniversity Faculty Travel Fund Arabic Studies in Morocco: $2000.00☺
Program for Cultural Cooperation & Moroccan Morisco Project: $800.00
Membership in Associations in the Academic Field:
La Sociedad Asiática / The Asian Society
Asociación Canadiense de Hispanistas
AATSP: The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese
MESA: The Middle East Studies Association
TRANSLATING / INTERPRETING
20 years experience working for state attorneys, lawyers, foreign politicians, medical doctors, and
assurance adjustors.
TRAVELS
Extensive travels throughout the entire world: North America, Central America, South America, the
Caribbean, Europe, North Africa, West Africa, South Africa, the Indian Ocean, the Indian Subcontinent,
China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
PERSONAL & ACTIVITIES
Creative, honest, ethical, humorous, flexible, outgoing, responsible and accountable. Enjoys spending
quality family time, working out, various sports, fishing, and traveling...