Mediterranean Cultural Studies, a Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH) study abroad program, has been presented at various American universities by Vicente Micol, Vice Rector for International Relations. To accomplish this, Micol met with representatives from Spanish language departments at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle, Central Washington University (CWU), and California State University Northridge (CSUN).

Vicente Micol with Antonio Sanchez at Central Washington University.

At the University of Washington, the Vice Rector was received by María Gillman, with whom he talked about the UMH study abroad program. In the case of Central Washington University, Micol met with Dr. Antonio Sanchez to examine the potential of the UMH program and to identify programs of interest for CWU students with Spanish language skills.

The visit concluded at California State University Northridge in Los Angeles, where Micol met with officials from the Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies with the same objectives in mind. In this sense, Micol assures that “the faculty showed significant interest in the program, as well as in the recently created Area of US Hispanic Studies of the Miguel Hernández Chair.” Moreover, in this final meeting, the foundations were laid for a symposium to be held at the UMH in 2017, organized by the Miguel Hernández Chair, with the main theme being the influence of Spanish literature on US Hispanic literature throughout history, analyzed through journalism, and where both American and Spanish faculty from the areas of journalism and literature will participate as speakers.

Vicente Micol with CSUN Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies Chair, Gabriel Gutierrez, and faculty members Ana Sánchez and Rodolfo Acuña.

These visits are part of the plan for promoting the Mediterranean Cultural Studies study abroad program, which is directed at North American students and implemented by the UMH Vice Rectorate for International Relations, in collaboration with the Academic Language Institute (ALI) of Alicante.