Jason G. Summers

Education / Degrees:

·         Ph.D. 2001, Indiana University
·         Major: Hispanic Literature
·         Dissertation: Outside Looking In, Inside Looking Out: Exile and Prison Narratives from Cuba and the Southern Cone.
·         Emphases: (1) Twentieth Century, all genres; (2) Narrative, all periods; (3) Caribbean and Southern Cone Narrative
·         Minors: Portuguese, Film

·         M.A. 1994, Bowling Green State University
·         Major: Hispanic Literatures and Cultures
·         Master’s Thesis: El contrapunteo de los efectos de las ideologías religiosas, las ideologías políticas y las ideologías estéticas en la producción artística de Latinoamérica.

·         A.B. 1990, Western Kentucky University
·         Majors: Journalism and Spanish

Grants and Fellowships:

·         Summer Research Grant, Indiana University Purdue University-Fort Wayne, Summer 2005.
·         Indiana University Overseas Conference Fund Grant, Indiana University, Spring 2005.
·         Purdue Research Foundation International Travel Grant, Purdue University, Spring 2005.
·         SURF Fellowship, Arkansas Science Information Liaison Office, Fall 2002.
·         Fulbright College Summer Research Stipend, University of Arkansas, Summer 2002.
·         Course release from a U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant to Latin American Studies program, University of Arkansas, Spring 2001.
·         Sisters Travel Grant, Indiana University, February 1999.
·         College of Arts and Sciences Fellowship, Indiana University, 1994-95 academic year.

Research Interests:

·         Boom, Post-Boom and McOndista writing, magical realism, and film in Latin America.
·         Prison and exile: representations in and effects on Latin American literature and culture.
·         Violence and memory in Hispanic literature and film.
·         Afro-Latino culture and representation in Latin American literature.
·         Gender representations in Latin American and U.S. Latino literature and culture.

Articles:

·         "Al-Andalus as Cultural Mirror: Reading Goytisolo and Gala."  Ixquic 7 (Dec. 2006): 49-58.

·         "Media-Portrayed Violence in Alberto Fuguet's Tinta roja." In press. Novels of the Contemporary Extreme. Eds. Alain-Philippe Durand and Naomi Mandel.  London: Continuum, 2006.  64-73.

·         "Aspectos de la representación de las religiones afro-americanas en los textos negristas y afro-hispanos."  Monographic Review/Revista Monográfica 15 (1999): 130-44.

Encylopedia Articles

·         "Isabel Allende", "Gabriel García Márquez", "Latina/o Literature", "Magical Realism", "Prison Literature".  Encyclopedia of Literature and Politics.  Ed. M. Keith Booker.  New York: Greenwood P, 2005.  25-26, 279-80, 415-17, 447-48, 580-82.

Journals:

·         Created and edit Soleado – an electronic journal of creative writing in Spanish.

Reviews:

·         Esquivel, Laura.  Malinche.  New York: Atria Books, 2006.  Bookslut 55 (Dec. 2006).  Columns: "Fronera Ramera". <<http://www.bookslut.com/frontera_ramera/2006_11_010318.php>>.

·         Palermo, Zulma, ed.  El discurso crítico en América Latina II.  Buenos Aires: Corregidor, 1999.  New Comparison 29 (Spring 2000): 183-84.

Conferences:

·         "Reading Chilean National Discourse through Ariel Dorfman." M/MLA Conference, Minneapolis, MN. November 2008.

·         "Blast from the Past: Reflections of Borgesian Violence in McOndista Writers at the Turn of the Century." M/MLA Conference, Minneapolis, MN. November 2008.

·         "End of the Family, End of the Nation in Recent Latin American Narrative." MLA Conference, Philadelphia, PA. December 2006.

·         "Muerte, violencia y el arte de contar – realismo (cine)mágico en Tinta roja de Alberto Fuguet." IV Conferencia Internacional de Literatura Hispánica, Bayahibe, Dominican Republic. March 2005.

·         "Al-Andalus as Cultural Mirror of Modern Spain: Reflection and criticism in Goytisolo and Gala." Convivencia and Lost Paradises: Visions of Al-Andalus in Spanish-Language and Islamic Literatures Conference, Al-Akhawayn University, Ifrane, Morocco . May 2002.

·         "Juan Luis Guerra desde la crítica social al amor romántico: para una visión nueva de su música." IV Conference of the Latin American Branch of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music, National Center for the Arts (CENART), Mexico City. April 2002.

·         "La mujer frente al patriarcado neocolonialista: Revolución y conformismo en La casa de los espiritus de Isabel Allende." SCMLA Conference, University of Tulsa. November 2001.

·         "Cantinflas and the Quijote: Variations in the Details."  A Conference on Film Comedy: The Laugh's on Us, Literature/Film Association, Bowlus Fine Arts Center, Iola, KS. September 2001.

·         "Natural Healing: An Ecocritical Study of U.S. Latino Writing." Association for the Study of Literature and Environment Fourth Biennial Conference, Northern Arizona University. June 2001.

·         "Regionalism as Anti-Nationalism, Nationalism as Super-Regionalism: Latin American Writing in the 1920s." Representing Regionalism, Nationalism and Internationalism in the Space Between 1914-1945 Conference, University of Arkansas. May 2001.

·         "How to read Ariel Dorfman: The Dangers of an Obstinate Memory." University of Kentucky Foreign Language Conference. April 2000.

·         "Unwilling Immigrants: Exile and Failure in U.S. Latino Literature." MELUS 2000, Tulane University. March 2000.

·         “El tiempo en Alejo Carpentier y Manuel Ramos Otero: Una meta con dos fines.” University of Kentucky Foreign Language Conference. April 1999.

·         “Mirroring Exile: The Reflected Relationship of Dreaming in Cuban and One Hundred Years of Solitude.” Twentieth-Century Literature Conference, University of Louisville. February 1999.

·         “Killing the Americans: Violence and Nationalism in Two Spanish Films.” Violence in Film and Literature Conference, Florida State University. January 1999.

Workshops:

·         Invited lecturer – "Twentieth-Century Mexican and Chicano History and Literature." – Arkansas International Center, Mexico Program for Secondary Teachers and Administrators, University of Arkansas Little Rock. April 2003.

·         Invited lecturer – "Twentieth-Century Mexican and Chicano History and Literature." – Arkansas International Center, Mexico Program for Secondary Teachers and Administrators, University of Arkansas Little Rock. May 2002.

·         Invited lecturer – "Twentieth-Century Mexican and Chicano History and Literature." – Arkansas International Center, Mexico Program for Secondary Teachers and Administrators, University of Arkansas Little Rock. May 2001.

·         Invited presenter – "Art in Mexico: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo" – LingUA Links, University of Arkansas. February 2000.

·         Invited panel member – Teaching Literature Workshop, Indiana University. April 1999.

Teaching Awards:

·         Kappa Delta Faculty Honoree, Academic Excellence awards. April 2003.
·         Pomfret Hall Favorite Faculty Award, University of Arkansas. November 1999.
·         Pi Beta Phi Faculty Honoree, University of Arkansas. October 1999.
·         Teaching Excellence Recognition Award, Indiana University. March 1999.

Teaching Experience:

·         Assistant Professor, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.  Aug. 2004 – present.

Courses taught:

·         Span S495 – Special Topics Seminar: Immigration to and from the Hispanic World
·         Span S472 – Survey of Latin American Literature II
·         Span S471 – Survey of Latin American Literature I
·         Span S435 – US Latino Literature.
·         Span S420 – Recent Spanish-American Narrative (Boom, Postboom, McOndo/Crack
·         Span S413 – US Latino culture.
·         Span S412 – Latin American Culture. Seminar on Film and Society
·         Span S411 – Spanish Culture and Civilization. Seminar on recent Spanish cinema
·         ILCS I330 – Cultural Crossroads. Introduction to cultural studies
·         ILCS I300 (was W300) – Methods of Research and Criticism. Introduction to literary theory for all foreign language majors
·         Span S302 – The Hispanic World II. Introductory Spanish literature course
·         Span S301 – The Hispanic World I. Introductory Latin American literature course
·         Intl I208      – International Cinema. International Studies course - introduction to recent European cinema
·         Span S204 – Intermediate Spanish II
·         Span S203 – Intermediate Spanish I

·         Visiting Assistant Professor, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.  Aug. 2003 – June 2004.

Courses taught:
·         Span 472 – Survey of Latin American Literature II.
·         Span 471 – Survey of Latin American Literature I.
·         Span 312 – Advanced Spanish Composition.
·         Span 204 – Intermediate Spanish II.
·         Span 203 – Intermediate Spanish I.
·         Span 112 – Basic Spanish II.
·         Span 111 – Basic Spanish I.

·         Assistant Professor, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. June 1999 – Aug. 2003.

Honors Thesis directed:

·         "Latina Writers: The Complexities of Newfound Popularity." Erin Burton,  Summa Cum Laude.

Courses taught:
·         Span 5803 – Seminar: Hispanic Picaresque Literature – 16^th – 20^th centuries.
·         Span 5703 – Special Topics: Spanish American Literature – Boom and Post-Boom.
·         Span 5453 – Cinema and Literature.
·         Span 5383 – 20^th-Century Spanish American Poetry.
·         Span 4253 – Latin American Cinema and Society.
·         Span 4243 – Literature and Culture in the Hispanic United States.
·         Span 4213 – Spanish Civilization.
·         Span 4033 – Advanced Conversation.
·         LAST 4003 – Latin American Studies Colloquium
·         Span 4003 – Advanced Grammar.
·         Span 3063 – Intensive Spanish Reading I. Graduate reading class.
·         Span 3033 – Conversation.
·         Span 3003 – Advanced Spanish. Fifth-semester Spanish grammar and writing class.
·         Span 2013 – Fourth-semester Spanish language class.
·         Span 2003 – Third-semester Spanish language class.

·         Associate Instructor, Indiana University. August 1995 – May 1999.

Courses taught:
·         S331 – The Hispanic World. Introductory Latin American literature course.
·         S275 – Introduction to Hispanic Culture. Fifth-semester language and culture.
·         S100 - S250 – First- through fourth-semester Spanish language classes.
·         S125 – First-year remedial Spanish grammar class for students with learning disabilities or oral-language processing problems.

·         Program Assistant, Indiana University Honors Program in Foreign Languages. Valencia, Spain. June – July 1996.

Duties: Organizing and teaching high school students during a seven-week study-abroad program.

·         Teacher of English as a Second Language. Daniel’s Centre, Madrid, Spain. March 1992 – April 1993.

Teaching Interests:

·         Communicative approaches to language acquisition.
·         Innovative language and culture courses that use computer-enhanced instruction.
·         I am interested in developing upper-level and graduate courses in these areas:

Academic Service:

·         Student Affairs Committee. Faculty Senate. IPFW. April 2009 – present.

·         Indiana University Committee on Institutional Affairs. IPFW. April 2009 – present.

·         Student Affairs Committee. College of Arts and Sciences. IPFW. April 2009 – present.

·         Secretary – Literary Theory and Hispanic Criticism permanent section – Midwest Modern Language Association. Nov. 2008 – present.

·         Judge, International Studies International Photography contest – IPFW. April 2007.

·         Faculty Senate. IPFW. Aug. 2006 – present.

·         Invited lecturer – "Foreign Language Retention and Study and the Effects on Employment" – United Hispanic Americans, Fort Wayne, IN. July 2006.

·         Judge, International Studies International Photography contest – IPFW. April 2006.

·         Invited panelist – U.S. premiere of Cásate conmigo – Margaret Mead Traveling Film & Video Festival 2005. Cinema Center, Fort Wayne, IN. Oct. 2005.

·         Arts and Sciences Council – College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University Purdue University - Fort Wayne. Aug. 2005 – present.

·         Faculty and Student Affairs Committee – Department of International Language and Culture Studies, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Aug. 2004 – present.

·         Invited lecturer – "Foreign Language Study." – Benito Juarez Cultural Center, Fort Wayne, IN. June 2004.

Undergraduate Advisor – Spanish section, Department of Foreign Languages, University of Arkansas. August 2002 – June 2003.

·         Student Organization Advisor, Spanish Cineclub, University of Arkansas. Fall 2002 – Spring 2003.

·         Presenter at "International Day" with several of my students – Root Elementary School, April 2002.

·         University Committee on Student Awards, Honors and Convocations, University of Arkansas. Fall 2001 – June 2003.

·         Emergency Preparedness Council, University of Arkansas. Fall 2001 – June 2003.

·         Teaching and Faculty Support Center New Faculty Luncheon Advisory Committee, University of Arkansas. August 2001 – May 2002.

·         Organizer, LAST Lecture Series visit by Gustavo Sainz: "De demonios, musas, duendes, trances, disciplina y todo eso." April 5, 2001.

·         Co-coordinator, Latin American Studies LAST Lecture Series, University of Arkansas. Spring 2000.

·         European Studies Committee, University of Arkansas. Fall 2000 – June 2003.

·         Latin American Studies Committee, University of Arkansas. Fall 1999 – June 2003.

·         LingUA Links presenter – "Art in Mexico: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo," University of Arkansas. February 2000.

·         Student Organization Advisor, Spanish Club / La Tertulia, University of Arkansas. Fall 1999 – June 2003.

·         Student Organization Advisor, Spanish Cineclub, University of Arkansas. Fall 2000, Fall 2002.

Specialized Experience:

·         Textbook reviewer for McGraw-Hill advanced grammar workbook: Spanish Grammar: A Workbook. January 2003.

·         Textbook reviewer for McGraw-Hill Spanish civilization textbook: España en su cultura. May 2002.

·         Course design consultant and content expert for on-line Spanish course for Jones International University. Dec. 2001 – March 2002.

·         Program design consultant and coordinator of Spanish tutors for Internet-based tutoring  service Smarthinking, Inc. June 2001 – present.

·         Textbook reviewer for Heinle & Heinle textbook: Plazas. October 1999.

·         Interpreter for the Indiana University-Purdue University NAFTA Conference. November 1996.

·         Translator for the Sexological Information and Education Council of the United States – Guia de orientação sexual. March 1996.

·         Web-page developer, consultant for standard academic software and basic computer hardware. 1993 – present.

·         Freelance translator. 1991 – present.

Study / Travel / Work Abroad:

·         Spain : 1991-93, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007
·         Dominican Republic : 2005.
·         Mexico: 1989, 2002, 2004.

Foreign Languages:

·         Spanish – near native fluency.
·         Portuguese – advanced reading and conversational skills.
·         French – intermediate reading and conversational skills.

Professional Organizations:

·         Latin American Studies Association.
·         Modern Language Association.
·         Association for the Study of Literature and Environment.
·         Society for the Study of Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States.
·         American Association of University Professors.
·         International Association for the Study of Popular Music – Latin American branch.