Maya Khalife-Hamdan ’25 and Katherine Ryan ’23, both pursuing majors in Spanish and international studies, presented their research at the Latin American and Latinx Studies Symposium held at Rollins College April 14 in Winter Park, FL. Students from all around the country gather at this interdisciplinary forum to showcase original research and creative projects conducted at their institution.
The articles presented by the student-scholars from Rhodes focused on the work of Colombian author Juan Carlos Galeano and engaged ecocritical saberes (knowledges) studied in their survey of Ecocritical Theory and Praxis in Latin America and the Latinx world under the guidance of Prof. Elizabeth Pettinaroli. Khalife-Hamdan's “The Humanities’ Call to Change: Mapinguari by Juan Carlos Galeano” presented a novel exploration of new epistemological approaches from Amazonian perspectives that challenge inherited notions of life and the role of humans on our planet. Ryan's “An Exploration to Eco-fantasy: Chaotic Order in Garzas by Juan Carlos Galeano” brought an innovative analysis of Galeano’s representation of the Amazonian challenge to Western ideas of order. Both projects offered new ideas and perspectives emerging from the region and its diaspora to the Symposium, reminding us of the importance of the environmental humanities and the liberal arts in expanding diverse perspectives that inspire and support environmental justice at a time of rapid environmental and social change.