Kiana Smith '21
¡Hola! Me llamo Kiana Smith y soy Nuevo Jersey. I am a double major in Spanish and International Studies. Upon coming to Dickinson, I knew right away I wanted to continue studying Spanish while also learning more about our world developments, international politics, and history. My three main reasons for wanting to Study Spanish and International Studies was by traveling and having amazing teachers in high school. My Junior and Senior year I was very blessed to visit Costa Rica and Cuba. I fell in love with the language and the culture of Latin America the moment I stepped off the plane. After returning from Cuba senior year spring I told my parents and later my teachers right away that I was going to double major in Spanish and International Studies. One of my main goals while I am here at Dickinson, is to travel abroad to Spain for a year in 2019-2020. I am so excited to continue my journey in learning and exploring the Spanish language and culture here at Dickinson.
Melanie Baime '21
¡Hola, me llamo Melanie! I am a sophomore Spanish and Psychology double major. The Spanish department at Dickinson gives me the opportunity to use my love for the Spanish language outside the classroom. I am currently taking Spanish for the Health Professions with professor Arnedo-Aldrich. Each week we drive to migrant clinics and farm grounds to interpret for Spanish speaking workers. We partner with the Keystone health program who provide migrants free/low priced medical care. Having this opportunity to interpret has opened my eyes to lifestyles and cultural details I had previously known little about. In the fall of 2019, I plan on studying abroad to Málaga, Spain. I hope to continue growing my Spanish speaking abilities and use it in any career I end up in.
Annie Pendleton '21
¡Hola! Me llamo Annie Pendleton. I am from Warrenton, VA and I am currently a sophomore here at Dickinson. I am an International Business and Spanish double major with a minor in Economics. I fell in love with Spanish during high school thanks to a great teacher, and I am continuously reminded of all that love in all of my spanish classes here. My favorite class thus far has been Spanish in the Business Professions because it is a great combination of my two majors. Next year I hope to study abroad in either South America or in Malaga. I cannot wait to be completely immersed in a language that I have been practicing for so long. After college, I hope to use my Spanish to connect with people on a more meaningful level in the business world.
Leslie Alas '22
¡Hola! Mi nombre es Leslie Alas y soy de Los Ángeles, California. I am a Spanish Major with an Arabic Minor. I am part of LA Posse 14 and will be graduating next Spring 2022.I have been able to take part in two programs during my first and second year of college. The first program was a five-week summer trip to Malaga, Spain. I fell in love with the culture and the gastronomy. I then returned in January of 2020 and spent the first two months taking intensive Spanish courses at the Universidad de Málaga and at the Centro Internacional de Español (CIE) where I improved in my writing and analytical Spanish skills. I am also a business woman and have started a cruelty-free beauty brand called Coast2Coast Beauty. This new endeavor has allowed me to dream bigger and apply the skills I've acquired while studying at Dickinson. Spanish has given me confidence to communicate better with my culture and my own family. Through Dickinson's Spanish Department, I have been able to travel, challenge my ideas, and grow as an individual. I highly recommend you take a look at some of the courses offered in the Spanish Department because there is truly something for everyone.
Brendan Wilmot '22
¡Hola, me llamo Brendan! I am a junior from Connecticut studying international studies and Spanish, with an economics minor. After taking Spanish courses since the sixth grade and continuing through the most advanced levels in high school, as well as majoring in a globally-focused discipline, it was only natural to pursue a Spanish major at Dickinson! While I intended to study abroad in Málaga, these plans were unfortunately inhibited by the onslaught of COVID-19 a mere weeks after acceptance into the program. Despite, I have had an incredibly enriching experience studying Spanish at Dickinson, both on-campus and online! There are countless opportunities to engage with the language outside the classroom, both formal and informal. Post-Dickinson, I hope to utilize my extensive study of the Spanish language and culture to augment a successful career in strategy consulting with a multinational firm. ¡Bienvenidos a Dickinson!
Kylie Shalala '21
¡Hola! Me llamo Kylie Shalala. I am from Philadelphia, PA and an International Studies and Spanish double major at Dickinson. Last year, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Malaga, Spain and I LOVED it! My few months studying abroad was a highlight of my time at Dickinson. The Spanish department at Dickinson is amazing and has been a great way to learn about new cultures, ideas, places, and skills! I can't wait to use my Spanish as I enter the workforce after graduation!
Christine Marsh '22
“¡Hola! Me llamo Christine and I’m currently a junior here at Dickinson. While being a Spanish major, I am double minoring in Japanese and Psychology. I have a passion for foreign languages, which is something Dickinson excels at. During my senior year, I am planning to study abroad in both Japan and Spain. While abroad I am hoping to learn as much as possible about lifestyles and culture, as my post-graduate ambitions lie internationally!
At Dickinson, I am involved in the Lib Caps (tour guides) and as an exec board member of the Alpha Phi Omega fraternity. The skills I have learned in my Dickinson Spanish classes have helped me cultivate a global understanding- which is applicable to all facets of my daily life.
As an incoming senior looking back at my college experience, I can definitely say choosing Dickinson was one of the best decisions I've made. For students unsure about their major, I highly recommend choosing Spanish.
Ana Matovic ‘22
¡Hola, me llamo Ana! I am a junior Political Science and Spanish double major. When I came to Dickinson, I knew that I wanted to continue studying Spanish and the Spanish department has only enriched my love for the language. Every single professor I have had genuinely cares about their students' success. Currently, I am a Spanish Writing Tutor and Writing Associate for the Multilingual Writing Center which has been a great experience. This semester, I am participating in the Dickinson in D.C. program and am interning at the Consumer Protection Branch of the Department of Justice where I have been able to incorporate Spanish in my work. After graduation, I hope to attend law school and be able to incorporate Spanish in my future career!
Ellen McInnes ‘22
¡Hola, me llamo Ellen! I am a junior from Western New York with a double major in Latin American studies and Spanish, with a health studies certificate. I had an amazing Spanish teacher in high school, and she is the reason I have pursued Spanish into my college years. I have found all the classes I have taken within the Spanish department to be captivating and intellectually challenging across all topics. I have grown personally and as a student as a result of the guidance of professors in the Spanish department and I have made lasting peer relationships with other Spanish majors during my time at Dickinson. I have found that all three academic fields I am studying can be interconnected from the variety of classes that I have been able to take. A favorite class of mine so far has been Spanish for Health Professions because it was a mix of all three of my academic interests. After Dickinson I hope to travel to South America to have a full immersion experience and then pursue a career in public health to address health equity within the greater Latinx community.
Maria Smith ‘22
Hola, me llamo Maria! I am a Spanish & Latin American, Latino, and Caribbean studies double major. The Spanish department has given me countless opportunities to use my Spanish outside of the classroom as well as pursue my own research interests! I am currently working with a professor as a DANA research assistant and I also was able to study abroad during the summer of 2019 in Málaga, Spain! I hope to use my Spanish in a positive way to bring awareness to causes and issues in Spain and in Latin America!
Alaina Clemence ‘22
¡Hola, me llamo Alaina! I am from Maryland, I am a Spanish major with a double minor in creative writing and music, and as of April 2021 I am a member of the National Spanish Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi. I have always loved language: to speak it and feel the words in my mouth; to write it and build narratives; to hear the musicality of the voice as others speak. Where Spanish was concerned, I was in love with it ever since I started learning it at age eight, and so when I came to Dickinson and realized that I fully intended to make Spanish a part of every semester… making it my major just felt right! I had intended to spend my junior year abroad, studying in Ecuador and Argentina through the Dickinson in South America program, but given world events that has not been possible. Despite COVID-19, I have continued to have an enriching academic experience through the curriculum of a Globally Integrated Semester (GIS) course and the efforts of my dedicated and passionate professors. Post-Dickinson, I hope to work in translation; connecting English speakers to the work of Spanish-speaking authors across multiple disciplines as a way of closing gaps in cultural awareness is very important to me. I hope you find as much joy in studying Spanish at Dickinson as I have!
Max Herman '21
Hola, me llamo Max! I am from Baltimore, MD and I am an International Studies and Spanish double major, with a concentration in Latin America. I have taken Spanish courses every single semester during my time at Dickinson and have absolutely loved the department and every professor I had. In the Fall of 2019, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Malaga, Spain and had the best time of my life. The opportunity to study in a Spanish speaking country while living with a host family was incredible and improved my Spanish skills tremendously. I continued studying abroad in the Spring of 2020 through the Dickinson in South America program. Unfortunately, my time was cut short after a month in Cuenca, Ecuador due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that one month in Ecuador was incredible. I have enjoyed learning new cultures, meeting lifelong friends internationally, and improving my Spanish along the way, which is all thanks to Dickinson's wonderful Spanish department. Each and every professor I've had the opportunity to study with truly cares about their student's improvement, encourages us to study abroad, and wants us to use our Spanish skills whenever we can. Becoming a Spanish major at Dickinson was easily the best decision of my college career, and I can't wait to use my Spanish skills after Dickinson as well.
Andreea Rosu ‘22
¡Hola, me llamo Andreea y soy de Nueva York! I am a junior International Business and Management and Spanish double major. Coming to Dickinson, I knew I wanted to become fluent in Spanish. However, I was delightfully surprised by the Spanish Department’s selection of interesting literature-related course topics. Since declaring my Spanish major, I’ve been able to improve my Spanish-speaking skills immensely while reading and analyzing Spanish, Latinx and Caribbean literature-a passion of mine. For the past year and a half, I have also been working as the Student Office Assistant for the Department of Spanish and I continue to be a Spanish Writing Tutor for the Multilingual Writing Center. I have come to learn that Dickinson’s Department of Spanish is filled with dedicated and intelligent faculty and staff. After graduation, I hope to use my Spanish-speaking skills in the business world.