Celia Alpuche-May
Instructor of Spanish
M.A., West Virginia University

Thomas M. Capuano
Professor of Foreign Language
B.A. and Ph.D., State University of New York at Albany; Spanish
Teaching Interests: Medieval and Golden Age Spanish language and literature, Brazilian Portuguese

Professor Tom Capuano teaches elementary Portuguese and elementary and intermediate courses in Spanish, along with upper-level courses in Spanish grammar, composition, phonetics and literature, especially medieval Spanish literature and literature of the Siglo de Oro of Spain (1499-1680). His research interests include the 13th-century Riojan poet Gonzalo de Berceo and medieval Spanish lexicography. He has lived in Brazil and Puerto Rico and has traveled in Spain and Mexico, and heads up a branch of the “International Dictionary of the Old Spanish Language Project” at Truman.

Danion L. Doman
Associate Professor of Spanish
B.A., Brigham Young University
M.A., University of Kansas
Ph.D. University of Colorado
Teaching Interests: Colonial and Post-Colonial Latin-American literature

Professor Doman has come to Truman with a proven record of excellence in teaching. He has integrated his love for nature into his scholarly endeavors. For example, he has considered ecological issues as reflected in early Latin-American writings. Furthermore, Prof. Doman, having resided in both Spain and Costa Rica, has a rich understanding of some of the many faces of the Hispanic world.

Sergio Escobar
Assistant Professor of Spanish

Rebecca Green has taught Spanish from K-12 in the public schools in Wisconsin and Washington. Before moving to Kirksville, she taught English as a Second Language in Riverside, California where most of her students were Hispanics. She has traveled in Spain, Mexico and, most recently, Costa Rica. In Mexico she enjoyed the archeological sites of Monte Alban and Teotihuacán. In Costa Rica she spent time at Tortuguero National Park and the Monteverde Biological Reserve where she saw one of her dream birds – the quetzal. Her particular interests are nature, especially bird-watching, and Spanish film. She also enjoys art, music and ethnic food.
 

James Hammerstrand
Temporary Assistant Professor of Spanish

Eric Jewell
Associate Professor of Spanish
B.A., Brigham Young University
M.A., Brigham Young University
Ph.D., The University of New Mexico
Teaching interests: Methodology, Linguistics, and Culture and Civilization of Latin America

Professor Jewell enjoys teaching the beginning and intermediate Spanish courses. His research interests currently branch in two directions, second language acquisition and computers in instruction. Having just completed a dissertation in which he studied the acquisition of the Spanish preterit and imperfect by adult learners in a classroom setting, he is currently preparing some of that material for publication. Dr. Jewell is also turning his attention toward the question of how to best use computers in second language instruction and testing. He has lived several years in Mexico and has traveled the country extensively; most recently, he participated in a short tour of Spain. His personal interests include family, church, sports, and outdoor activities.

Lucy Lee
Professor of Spanish
B.A., Wesleyan College
M.A. and Ph.D., University of Kentucky
Teaching interests: 19th- and 20th-century peninsular literature; culture and civilization of Spain; peninsular film

Professor Lee teaches all levels of Spanish language and composition, as well as peninsular literature, culture, and film. Her research interests include contemporary Spanish narrative, film and women writers of the post-Civil War period; she has made conference presentations and published a series of scholarly articles on these topics. Other areas of interest include learning disabilities in foreign languages and Italian language and culture. Dr. Lee is faculty advisor of Truman's award-winning chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society. She also serves as the organization's Vice-President for the Southwest region and member-at-large of the National Executive Committee. In her "free" time, she enjoys opportunities for study and travel in Latin America and Europe, citing as her passion the exploration of ruins of all periods and adventure-seeking with her two children. She also enjoys dance, both classical and modern.

Tara Lockwood
Temporary Assistant Professor of Spanish
 

Joaquín Maldonado-Class
Associate Professor of Spanish
B.A. and M.A., Universidad Central de Bayamón
Ph.D., Universidad de Puerto Rico
Teaching interests: Latin American Literature

Professor Maldonado has taught Spanish in Puerto Rico at middle school, high school and university levels. He is a collaborator for Editorial Norma, which publishes Spanish textbooks for secondary education. He is also editor of revista escolar Senderos. In addition, Professor Maldonado fervently advocates the integration of technology with foreign language instruction.

Carol Marshall
Associate Professor of Spanish
B.A., St. Louis University
Ph.D., St. Louis University
Teaching interests: Peninsular medieval literature, modern poetry, women's literature; Mexican-American literature

Professor Marshall has taught both English and Spanish to small children, teenagers, undergraduates, and graduate students. She has conducted bilingual poetry writing workshops for children and adults and has worked as a technical translator and editor. She has written activities for textbooks and has traveled through the Midwest giving in-service workshops for secondary education teachers. Her research interests include women writers, as well as contemporary Mexican American poets. Dr. Marshall has also traveled extensively to Mexico and has received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities that allowed her to travel in Spain to create curricular materials. She has also taken students to Spain and France and enjoys cooking ethnic foods and experiencing music and art.

Bеnjamin Ogdеn
Assistant Professor of Spanish
B.A., Brigham Young University
M.A., Brigham Young University
A.B.D., Vanderbilt University
Teaching interests: Spanish grammar and language, Peninsular literature, Golden Age Spanish theater, 20th-century Spanish theater.

Professor Ogdеn enjoys teaching all levels of language courses besides courses in his areas of specialization: Spanish Literature, Spanish Theatre. He has authored various Spanish Language computer programs: Verbos, Tutor Español, Composition Writer, and the Testing Center. He has also authored a few general purpose computer programs: Conference Center, Course Information Center, Evaluate 2.0 (faculty evaluations), Check-In (lab attendance program), Lab Applications (network menu system for offering programs). Professor Ogden also serves as the Coordinator for Computing Support in the Departments of CML and Eng/Ling.

Vera Gómez-Piper
Assistant Professor of Spanish
B.S., Escuela Normal de Costa Rica
B.S.E., Truman State University
M.A., Truman State University
Graduate Study, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Teaching Interests: Spanish grammar, conversation, introduction to literature, and Latin American civilization and culture.

Professor Piper is a native of Costa Rica and, since 1984, the Director of the Costa Rica Summer Program for Truman State University. Professor Piper enjoys traveling and likes to share her traveling experiences with her students. Through international grants she has visited Spain, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Honduras. In Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico she has visited the archaeological sites of the Mayas in Chichén Itzá, Tikal, and Conan. She has traveled extensively through Costa Rica, and has studied the Bri-Bri Indians on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica.

Silvia E. Pites
Professor of Spanish
B.A., Brigham Young University
M.A. and Ph.D., University of Kansas
Teaching interests: 20th-century Latin American literature and linguistics

Professor Pites, a native of Argentina, teaches all levels of grammar, composition, and conversation besides courses in her area of specialization. During the summer, she teaches culture and civilization of Spain for our Summer Study Abroad program in Salamanca, which she directs. Her research interests are centered in contemporary Latin American women writers and the historical novel of Argentina. She has written many articles and a culture manual for study abroad. An advocate for diversity, Dr. Pites is deeply committed to higher education as well as family, church, and community service. Her love for literature is equal to that of music and art, and her hobbies include photography, pottery, and a large collection of antique clocks. She also speaks other Romance languages and has traveled and resided extensively in many parts of the world.

Roy Tanner
Professor of Spanish
B.A., Brigham Young University
M.A., Brigham Young University
Ph.D., University of Illinois
Teaching interests: 19th-century Spanish American literature and civilization, Spanish grammar

Professor Tanner has written much on 19th-century Peruvian literature, the focus of his research interests. He enjoys continually expanding his knowledge of the Spanish and Italian languages. He has a family of eight children, who keep him and his wife busy. Five of his children have lived in Latin America. He enjoys swimming laps, playing softball, and serving in his church. Dr. Tanner resided in Peru and returns there frequently. He has also traveled in Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Central America, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France.

Matthew Tornatore
Associate Professor of Spanish
B.A., University of New York (Albany)
M.A., University of Madrid, Spain
Ph.D., The University of New York (Albany)
Teaching interests: Linguistics and Spanish literature.

Professor Tornatore holds a doctorate in Romance Linguistics from The University of New York at Albany and has done his Master's work in Hispanic Linguistics in Madrid, Spain. He offers courses in linguistics, Spanish culture, literature, and all levels of language. His research interests include Renaissance and Medieval studies as well as the history of the Italian and Spanish languages. He has presented scholarly papers and published in his field. He has traveled extensively through Italy and Spain in addition to many other countries. Moreover, Dr. Tornatore also speaks fluent Italian and holds a B.A. and graduate studies in Russian. His pedagogical expertise in foreign languages derives in large part from his years of teaching in recognized language immersion programs in the Northeast. In addition, he brings to Truman a firm dedication to the humanist tradition from renowned liberal arts colleges in New York in which he taught.

Juan Carlos Valencia
Associate Professor of Spanish
B.A. University of North Carolina at Wilmington
M.A. and Ph.D., Florida State University, Tallahassee
Teaching interests: Colombian Literature and Creative Writing

A native of Colombia, Professor Valencia brings to Truman a wealth of experience as a Spanish translator and as an accomplished playwright. He teaches all levels of Spanish including specialty courses such as Spanish-English translation and Colombian Literature. He wrote Consumiendo Consumo and wrote and directed El Callejón. His play Samuel has since been made into a movie. Professor Valencia is also the co-founder of Revista Azulejos, an on-line magazine devoted to publishing creative works in Spanish. He also serves as advisor to the Spanish club and soccer club, and as co-advisor to the triathlon club. In addition to these pursuits, he also enjoys playing and coaching soccer, and marathon running.