Michelle Hamilton offers a new perspective in the field of medieval studies in her new book The Study of al-Andalus: the Scholarship and Legacy of James T. Monroe. This volume brings scholarship on Andalusi culture to an English-speaking audience and casts Monroe’s work into greater relief as part of—and as a foil to—current debates about Muslims and the cultures and traditions of the Arabic-speaking world.

Joseph Rojas learned abroad in three countries and three languages. He discusses how his experiences in Brazil, Venezuela, and France informed his career path. “Adaptability and flexibility are two of the greatest skills I learned as a result of studying abroad.”

Margaret Anderson spent spring 2018 in São Paulo, Brazil participating in traveling seminars to the São Paulo state coast, the northern state of Bahia, and to an indigenous village in São Paulo City. Her learning abroad experience was crucial to bridging the cultural differences that she expects to find in her future career.

For Jacob Dixon, studying in Maputo, Mozambique confirmed a desire to teach Portuguese and opened up interests in the greater Lusophone world. Support from the Institute for Global Studies and the US Department of Education made his trip possible.

Greta Treiber spent spring 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She discusses her connection with her host family and her tips for other students looking to participate in learning abroad. By honing her Spanish skills, Treiber hopes to further her intercultural competence as she pursues a master's in arts education.

Kathleen Ganley started teaching service-learning classes with the Latino community in 1996. This January, she took a class to the US/Mexico border. Her students returned with an acute understanding of the reality that migrants face when attempting to immigrate to the US.

College in the Schools is a program that provides highly motivated high school students the opportunity to take college courses in a high school setting—with the chance to earn college credit, too. Cristina Castro, who coordinates the CIS Spanish program, explains the program’s impact on students and how it engages Minnesota’s high schools with the University.

After the far-right government executed more than 3,000 young civilians, many Colombian mothers have become dedicated social activists. As part of a Grand Challenge Research Initiative grant and the CLA Dean’s First-Year Research & Creative Scholars Program, a trio of undergraduate students traveled to Soacha, Colombia to interview some of these women. Olivia Nortwen, Sydney Provinzino, and Kylie Sievers explore how mothers are transforming the Colombian social landscape. Their research received the award for “Best Scholarly Presentation” at the 2018 Undergraduate Interdisciplinary Conference.

In Velazquez's Las Meninas, the painted scene that we contemplate seems to turn to look at us: there where we place our gaze, we find someone—and perhaps ourselves—staring back. Drawing us into its sphere, the painting shatters the borders between life and art.