This month’s member spotlight highlights LeAnne Spino-Seijas, an MLA member since 2017. Read about LeAnne’s experience participating in the MLA Pathways program and how MLA resources have supported her work:
“I am an associate professor of Spanish at the University of Rhode Island. I also direct the International Studies and Diplomacy (ISD) program at the University of Rhode Island. The ISD program is a unique, dual-degree program where students major in international studies and a language, study abroad for at least a semester, and reach a proficiency benchmark before graduation. The MLA Pathways step grant has been instrumental in helping me set up structural support to continue to grow the program, educate students on how to meet the proficiency benchmark, and launch an initiative called Just apply! that helps ISD students identify and apply to internships, scholarships, and jobs.
The MLA does so much to support our profession, our faculty, and our students. I participated in the Humanities Advocacy Day last year and ended up, to my surprise, advocating for the humanities on Capitol Hill with the executive director of the MLA, Paula Krebs. It was one of those moments where I realized just how much the MLA is doing behind the scenes. In supporting the MLA, we support the vitality and longevity of our profession.”
Recommended resource: “I recommend that all faculty, not just department chairs and program directors, read (and publish in!) the ALD Bulletin. The ALD Bulletin contains timely and important information about our profession, including pedagogical, curricular, and departmental matters. I also urge departments, colleges, and universities to ‘count’ this type of scholarship in the tenure and promotion process. Doing so will incentivize this work which will, in turn, improve communication and strengthen our profession.”