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GRADUATE LIBERAL
ARTS & SCIENCES NEWS
A newsletter by and for the graduate programs of Liberal Arts & Sciences
June 2009 | Volume Forty-Eight, Issue Three
In this issue, enjoy features on:
• Classical Studies
• Graduate Biology
• Dr. Chiji Akoma, Graduate English Department
• Dr. Jared J. Paul, Chemistry Department
• Lieutenant Margaret Kennedy, Chemistry Student
• Laura Brown, Education Student
For the next issue, please send your news to
khowell@howellpartners.com by September 11, 2009.
Poesía en Español: Two Poetry Recitals in Thirty Days continued from page 8
Hispanic Studies. Mr. Yushimito opened
the event with general introductory
remarks, followed by a reading of an
excerpt from a poem by the famous
Chilean poet Nicanor Parra. The first
participant to recite his verses was
Mr. Rodolfo Figueroa, a native of Chile
and an active participant in Villanova’s
literary workshop known as Pinzón 9,
founded by Dr. Carlos Trujillo,
Although not published to date, the
poetry Mr. Figueroa has recited
informally during the weekly gatherings
of Pinzón 9 have revealed a truly unique
and mature poetic style. There is little
doubt that this budding poet will be
published in the very near future,
since his poetry was well received
by the audience. David Miralles, Ph.D.,
who teaches in Villanova’s Spanish
Studies division, in addition to being
an accomplished and published Chilean
poet and writer of prose, was the
second participant to recite his verses.
Dr. Miralles is the author of numerous
collections of verses, in addition to
having recently penned a collection
of short stories. The third participant
was Mr. Christian Formoso, a student
finishing up his graduate studies in
Villanova’s Hispanic Studies program.
Mr. Formoso, an accomplished poet
and an award recipient for his poetry
in his native Chile, read, among others,
verses from his latest collection of poetry
entitled El cementerio más hermoso de Chile
(2008). The recital session was closed
by Dr. Carlos Trujillo, an accomplished
Chilean poet, having authored
numerous books of verses as well
as being a recipient of the prestigious
Pablo Neruda Prize for poetry in Chile.
The resounding success of both
events in terms of the notable artistic
quality of the verses recited, as well as
the considerable audience attendance,
followed by an enthusiastic question
and answer session, has animated the
members of Pinzón 9 to host future
recitals on a regular basis, as well as
perhaps using poetry as a vehicle for
promoting oral and writing proficiency
in Spanish at the very beginning levels
of undergraduate studies in Spanish.
Full-length footage of both recitals is
available on “i Tunes U” under “Spanish
Poetry”. Most recently the Pinzón 9
group has launched a brand new literary
journal dubbed Naufragios (May 1,
2009). The journal includes creative
work in poetry, the short story, and the
visual arts by accomplished Hispanic
artists, as well as a section on essays
devoted to authors and works of
Hispanic literature.