Yamile Silva, Ph.D., professor of world languages and cultures at The University of Scranton, was appointed general editor of the academic Journal of Gender and Sexuality Studies/ Revista de Estudio de Género y Sexualidades, which is published by Michigan State University Press. She will serve as general editor for five years, beginning in 2025.
In addition, a dossier she co-edited was selected as the best scholarly collaborative project by the international professional organization GEMELA (Grupo de Estudios de la Mujer en España y las Américas pre-1800). The dossier, “‘Yo llana estoy’: Jerarquías, transgresiones y despliegues de género en América hispana colonial (1492-1898),” was co-edited with Ana María Díaz Burgos, Ph.D., the Eric and Jane Nord Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies and chair of Hispanic Studies at Oberlin College. It included an introduction, five essays, and two academic interviews for a total of 50,000 words.
Dr. Silva’s research and publications focus in the areas of 17th and 20th century Spanish women writers, Spanish American literature (colonial and contemporary), women's studies, historical textualities and transatlantic studies. Her recent books include Agencia, Historia y Empoderamiento Femenino (2018) coedited with Diane Martin, Ph.D., and Eva Paris, Ph.D.; La sonrisa del paisaje. Diarios de Abigail Mejía (2020); the anthology Palabras: Dispatches from the Festival de la Palabra (2014), coedited with Hank Willenbrink, Ph.D., associate professor of English and theatre at The University of Scranton; the monograph issues Raza, género y diáspora en el Caribe (2017) and Las utopias en la literatura (2018), both co-edited with Daniel Torres, Ph.D. In addition to articles published in academic journals, she has published book chapters in Women's Negotiations and Textual Agency (2017), Gendering Citizenship and Globalization (2011) and La constitución de identidades subalternas en el discurso jurídico (2008).
Dr. Silva joined the faculty at Scranton in 2009. She serves as director of Latin American and Latinx studies at Scranton. She has been an associated faculty member of the Women Studies Program since 2010. She served as director of the University’s Intersession Study Abroad Program in Puebla, México (Universidad Iberoamericana) and the Summer Spain Program (Universidad de Navarra). Dr. Silva received the University’s Excellence in Advancing Global Learning Award in 2014.
Dr. Silva is a member of the Executive Council of the Colonial Section, Latin American Studies Association, the largest professional association in the world for individuals and institutions engaged in the study of Latin America.
Dr. Silva received a bachelor’s degree from Los Andes University, and a master’s degree and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
Faculty Member Appointed General Editor
Yamile Silva, Ph.D., was appointed general editor of an academic journal, and an international professional organization chose her dossier as best scholarly collaborative project.
Laura R. Chapman, Ph.D. CCC-SLP, Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences & Disorders and Speech-Language Pathology, in the Department of Health and Human Performance, will focus on integrating CBL into the course CSD 403: Introduction to Speech and Language Disorders in Healthcare. She will work with a community partner to aid in the development and implementation of programming related to optimizing cognitive wellness for older adults in the community. She plans to engage her students in collaboration with the community partner to develop education, resources, and practices related to improving and maintaining cognitive wellness, with the hopes that it will foster a several-week workshop led by students that community members who are concerned about their cognitive wellness can participate in for free.
Nathaniel A. Frissell, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Physics and Engineering, will focus on a project entitled “Bringing the Amateur Radio Hobby to the Blind and Visually Impaired of Lackawanna County.” His inspiration for this project comes from how amateur (ham) radio is an accessible, well-suited hobby for blind and visually impaired people. He will collaborate with University of Scranton Electrical Engineering and Physics students, members of the University’s W3USR Amateur Radio Club, members of the Murgas Amateur Radio Club based in Wilkes-Barre, volunteer radio amateurs who are blind/visually impaired, and University of Scranton Occupational Therapy faculty and students, all to teach interested clients of the Lackawanna Blind Association the necessary skills to engage in the amateur radio community. This will include the knowledge required to pass the Technician Amateur Radio License exam and the skills needed to communicate with other amateurs from a home radio device.
Christiane McDonald, M.S., CCC-SLP, Faculty Specialist of Communication Sciences & Disorders and Speech-Language Pathology, in the Department of Health and Human Performance, will focus on the project “Speech & Language Milestones, Development, and Differences” as a part of two of her courses, CSD 200: Foundations of Speech & Language Development, and CSD 203: Developmental Speech & Language Disorders. The two foundational CSD courses focus on understanding typical speech and language development, and the various developmental disorders which may affect an individual’s speech. The classes also include the study of language differences, and how they relate to culture, dialect, and bilingualism. Thus, the intended CBL project will focus on identifying local minority families and engaging CSD students in offering them support, which will include information about developmental speech and language milestones, recognizing signs and symptoms of delays, and recognizing language differences. She and her students will also provide information about how to enhance a child’s skills, guide parents if they need a referral, and promote and celebrate the benefits of bilingualism for children.
Stacy M. Smulowitz, Ph.D., ABC, Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Communication and Media Department, will focus on integrating a CBL component into the course COMM 330: Advertising Decision Making, as well as the University’s student-run Advertising Club. She will engage her students in a semester-long group project that is aimed at creating advertisement and marketing content for a local non-profit or small business. Each student group will operate as an ad agency competing for the business of
Q: Your club is one of many extracurricular opportunities within the Communication and Media Department. Can anyone participate?
Shown at the recent Student Activities fair are Mulberry Media board members from left: Arianna Taylor, Amanda Vaccaro, Sheila Miller and Grace Quick.
The University of Scranton will host a series of celebratory events including a film series, a cultural awareness night, a restaurant tour and more. The theme for this year, “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” will spotlight influential figures who have paved the way for change in the Hispanic/Latinx community.
President of the Association of Latinx American Students Wailly J. Lewis '26, shown, explained the significance of the monthlong celebration.
Next month, Emily Aguilo Perez, shown at left, will present “An American Icon in Puerto Rico: Barbie, Girlhood, and Colonialism at Play,” Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 5 p.m. in Brennan Hall, Pearn Auditorium, 228. The Slattery Center for Ignatian Humanities will sponsor this presentation. 
Chelsea Curran ‘26, a Jamison resident, spent her Royal Experience internship with the Bucks County Public Defender's office in Doylestown. This summer, The University of Scranton junior shadowed attorneys in courtroom, analyzed evidence for trials and conducted client interviews.

