Associate Professor of Spanish
Ph.D. University of Colorado
Jennifer Brady’s research focuses on representations of subjectivity and the self in contemporary literary and cinematographic works from Spain, as well as on innovative models of placemaking public cultural spaces in Spain. She is curious about the ways in which contemporary cultural texts (in the broadest sense: literature, film, space) address social and cultural issues, and this curiosity guides many of her classes here at UMD.
She treasures helping students learn Spanish because she has seen time and time again that learning a language not only enhances personal, academic, and professional lives, but it also expands perspectives and cultivates a rich sense of openness. The three aspects of her job that delight Prof. Brady the most are: co-creating a sense of community and belonging with her students, co-leading the summer study abroad academic program to Salamanca, Spain, and collaborating with colleagues here at UMD and from across the world.
Another area of professional interest is the ethical development and dissemination of scholarship in Luso-Hispanic Cultural Studies in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. Having served since 2007 on the editorial staff of Hispania, the flagship scholarly journal of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) founded in 1917, Prof. Brady has managed the production of 32+ volumes and she has collaborated in the creative development of the journal. Currently, she serves as an Associate Editor at Hispania.
In her free time, Prof. Brady enjoys spending time with her two children and husband, reading The New York Review, and cooking with family and friends.