Notable Achievements

Seven Southwestern students — economics and studio art double major Asin Allavudeen ’27, economics and business major Cody Diez Jennings ’27, biochemistry major Jade Cindy Foka ’28, computer science and psychology double major Alyanna Martinez ’27, computer science and economics double major Juan Martinez Varela ’27, political science major Emma Sanchez ’29, and economics and business major Elias Sarwana ’27 — were selected to compete in the 2026 HSI Battle of the Brains (BOTB), held September 28–October 2 in Austin. This national interdisciplinary competition challenges student teams to tackle a complex business and technology problem in just 24 hours, requiring them to research the problem, develop an innovative and technically feasible solution, and create a business plan and presentation. The week also includes company visits, professional development, and recruiting opportunities with major employers, including Dell Technologies, Thrivent, CrowdStrike, eBay, The Home Depot, and Electronic Arts. Solutions are evaluated by industry experts on both their business and technical merits, with the seven highest scoring teams advancing to the finals. Southwestern was selected as one of those finalists and earned the highest business score in the competition! In addition, Diez Jennings received a scholarship from eBay, marking the second consecutive year a Southwestern student has received an eBay scholarship through the competition. The team was supported throughout the selection, preparation, and competition process by the Office of Student Life, Office of Academic Affairs, Director of the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center & Head of Distinctive Collections Megan Firestone, Director of Student Engagement Jacorey Patterson, Assistant Dean of the Faculty & Professor of Spanish Laura Senio Blair, Board of Visitors Member Zoe Thompson, and team advisors: Director of the Center for Career & Professional Development Adrian D. Ramirez, Associate Professor of Spanish Abby Dings, and Professor of Business Debika Sihi.

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Laura Senio Blair

Professor of Spanish

Expertise

20th and 21st Century Hispano American Narrative and Drama. Chilean Narrative, Drama and Film. Hispanic Film.

I believe that the role of an educator is to be a supportive and energetic facilitator
who has a duty and the privilege to help foster a teachable and learner-centered
environment in which any and every student can thrive.
Whether teaching language level courses or advanced seminars, I endeavor to
create a comfortable atmosphere that presents intellectual materials to my students in
varied formats and multiple contexts. The goal of each and every one of my classes is to
implement both language acquisition and critical thinking skills that work to expand my
student’s intellectual and creative capacity. The second goal I have for my students is to
help them improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities from whichever
level they begin. However, I believe that it is this last skill that grounds my classroom
and assigned homework activities: to acquire cultural awareness and appreciation. To this
end, I am passionate about serving as a role model and ambassador for cultural
consciousness and understanding inside the classroom, in the hallways, during my office
hours and with extra-curricular activities.

Education

Ph.D., University of Kansas, Lawrence 2002
MA, University of Colorado, Boulder 1994
BA, Whitman College 1992

Honors & Awards

  • National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar “Jewish Buenos Aires” July 2014;
  • Fulbright Scholar Recipient (2012);
  • American Scandinavian Foundation Fellow (2009-2010);
  • P.E.O. Scholar Award for Academic Achievement in Graduate Studies (1997-1998);
  • Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Award for International Studies (1994-1995).

Affiliations

  • MLA
  • AILCFH
  • SCMLA
  • SCOLAS
  • LASA
  • ADF
  • PCA

Links

  • Biography

    I believe that the role of an educator is to be a supportive and energetic facilitator
    who has a duty and the privilege to help foster a teachable and learner-centered
    environment in which any and every student can thrive.
    Whether teaching language level courses or advanced seminars, I endeavor to
    create a comfortable atmosphere that presents intellectual materials to my students in
    varied formats and multiple contexts. The goal of each and every one of my classes is to
    implement both language acquisition and critical thinking skills that work to expand my
    student’s intellectual and creative capacity. The second goal I have for my students is to
    help them improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking abilities from whichever
    level they begin. However, I believe that it is this last skill that grounds my classroom
    and assigned homework activities: to acquire cultural awareness and appreciation. To this
    end, I am passionate about serving as a role model and ambassador for cultural
    consciousness and understanding inside the classroom, in the hallways, during my office
    hours and with extra-curricular activities.

    Education

    Ph.D., University of Kansas, Lawrence 2002
    MA, University of Colorado, Boulder 1994
    BA, Whitman College 1992

    Honors & Awards

    • National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar “Jewish Buenos Aires” July 2014;
    • Fulbright Scholar Recipient (2012);
    • American Scandinavian Foundation Fellow (2009-2010);
    • P.E.O. Scholar Award for Academic Achievement in Graduate Studies (1997-1998);
    • Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Award for International Studies (1994-1995).

    Affiliations

    • MLA
    • AILCFH
    • SCMLA
    • SCOLAS
    • LASA
    • ADF
    • PCA

    Links

  • Research

    20th and 21 Century Chilean Literature, Drama and Film

    Southern Cone Literature, Theatre, Film and Cultural Studies

    Hispanic Road Movies

    Filming Exile: Chilean Documentaries

  • Publications

    Recent Publication

    “Unlocking the Door to Shadow and Substance: Nona Fernández’s La dimensión desconocida.” Ciberletras: Revista de crítica literaria y de cultura, no. 50, 2024, pp. 83-94.

    Book Chapters

    “Atravesando continentes y oceanos: La obra filmica de Angelina Vazquez” in Nomadias: El cine de Marilu Mallet, Valeria Sarmiento y Angelina Vazquez. Eds. Catalina Donoso and Elizabeth Ramirez. Iniciativa Bicentenario de la Universidad de Chile y de Santander Universidades-Universidad de Warwick (2016): 181-206.

    “Bordering Adolescence: Latin American Youth in Road Films La misma luna and Sin nombre” in Screening Minors in Latin American Cinema. Eds. Carolina Rocha and Georgia Seminet. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2014. 119-131.

    Articles

    “Angelina Vazquez y el lente circular del exilio: (re)fundar la identidad chilena por el medio filmico.” Aisthesis: Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile 54.2 (2013): 223-236. http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0718-71812013000200012&lng=es&nrm=iso&tlng=es

    “Driving Class Conflict: Taxis and Taxistas in Contemporary Chilean Cinema.” Letras Hispanas 8.1 (2012) 21-31.

    “Chilean Theatre: 1900-Present,” “Fernando Alegria,” “Carlos Droguett,” “Ergon Wolff,” “Sergio Vadonovic.” World Literature in Spanish: An Encyclopedia. Eds. Maureen Ihrie and Salvador A. Oropesa. Westport: ABC-CLIO, 2011.

    “Residual Effects: The Recurring Theme of Incest in Contemporary Chilean Women’s Narrative.” Letras femeninas 36.2 (2010) 183-198.

    “A Retrospective on Chilean Film.” Program Notes for the Cine las Americas Hispanic Film Festival in Austin, April 2009.

    “Bridges Between the Divide: The Female Body in Y tu mama tambien and Machuca.” Studies in Hispanic Cinema 4.1 (2007): 47-62.

    “Betwixt and Between: Finding Home Again in Chilean Returnee Literature.” The Latin Americanist 50.1 (2006): 7-23.

    “New ways of thinking about Home: Alberto Fuguet’s Representation of the Return.” Monograph Series from the NAAAS and Affiliates. NAASA National Convention: Houston, 2005: 1119-1132.

  • Presentations

    2025 “Leading with Equity: Perspectives on Student Success from the Mellon

               Academic Leadership Fellows.” AAC&U Annual Conference

    2024 “Burying Ashes and Making Dust: Redemption, Religion, and

               Memorialization in Recent Global Road Movies.” 2024 International

               Conference on Religion and Film, Hollywood, California

    2023 “Visible Travelers: Women as Agents of Social Change in Latin

              American Road Movies.” CIMCiH: Conferencia Internacional de Mujeres

              Cineastas Hispánicas (virtual)

    2021 “Memorial Acts in the Latin American Road Movie.” CIMCiH:

              Conferencia Internacional de Mujeres Cineastas Hispánicas (virtual)