We are an interdisciplinary community of scholars and educators dedicated to advancing and disseminating innovative research on the language, literature, and culture of the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking worlds. 

Research

We are leaders in the historically informed study of the relationship between culture and politics in the modern Hispanophone and Lusophone worlds. Our areas of expertise encompass medieval Al-Andalus and Colonial Latin America and extend to the contemporary Iberian Peninsula, Southern Cone, Brazil, the Caribbean, Andean regions, and Mexico. We espouse an interdisciplinary model in which literary studies stands alongside other approaches such as cultural studies, film and media studies, race and ethnicity studies, gender studies, critical theory, and the environmental humanities, among others. 

Teaching

Our standing faculty, lecturers, and visiting faculty have expertise in fields including literature, cultural studies, linguistics, art history, education, business, law, and psychology. We are committed to providing our students with the critical thinking skills, historical contexts, and linguistic proficiency essential for the understanding of the diverse cultures in which Spanish and Portuguese are spoken. At every level, from basic language instruction to advanced seminars on literature, film, art, and cultural movements, we provide students with a rigorous education that integrates language proficiency, cultural knowledge, and intercultural competence. 

Community

We are the central hub on Penn’s campus for the study of cultural texts from the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking worlds in the original language as well as a key synergistic node between departments and programs such as the Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies, Africana Studies, Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, Comparative Literature, and Cinema and Media Studies. By fostering connections among individuals of different linguistic backgrounds, we advance thoughtful engagement with diverse communities while promoting a deeper understanding of Hispanic and Lusophone cultures within the United States and beyond. Together with our dedicated administrative staff, our interdisciplinary and international faculty strive to create a collaborative environment in which everybody is welcome.