http://www.emyouthemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/PakmodeWebLogo.pngBy Jason Idalski
jason.idalski@emyouthemagazine.com
Picture a middle school, maybe one just like your middle school.
Picture a girl at that school, from Ecuador, constantly teased as a snob, even having things thrown at her.
Picture another girl, who sympathizes with the teased girl. She uses a tattered dictionary to help teach the Ecuadorian girl English at the bus stop, on the bus.
Picture the Ecuadorian girl now, living in the U.S., having gone to cosmetology school, starting a hair products and supply business. Her English is now “impeccable,” says her American friend.
Picture the American girl, inspired by her experience, becoming a Spanish professor at Eastern Michigan.
Such is the story of Deanna Mihaly.
“My friend from Ecuador is the first one who got me interested in teaching,” she said. The two were best friends for many years and still keep in touch.
Mihaly grew up in Virginia as a “military child,” but her parents are EMU alumni. When she returned to Michigan, where her whole family is from, it was to attend Hillsdale College. As a private college, there was no residency issue regarding tuition.
After getting her doctorate at Tulane University in New Orleans, she came back to the state to come to EMU.
“When I came here it was like coming home,” Mihaly said.
That isn’t the only reason she came to EMU, though. Mihaly said she loves the teacher training program at Eastern (one of the best in Michigan) and that one of the favorite things about her job is passing along enthusiasm for language onto future teachers, who then impart it onto students.
Mihaly also said that at Eastern she also gets to teach lower-level courses, which she likes to do.
“Many professors find that they’re only teaching at the upper levels,” she said. “I like to teach at all levels and meet freshmen when they’re coming in, too.
“That’s really exciting,” Mihaly continued. “That first moment of language acquisition is really fun to witness.”
Outside of the classroom, Mihaly goes to Spain every six months with students and, before coming to Eastern, created interdisciplinary study abroad trips.
Mihaly also teaches introduction to women’s studies, and the two disciplines can collide as she sometimes references female Spanish world leaders.
It also collides in her research regarding testimonial literature. Some women who were involved in political struggles or revolutionary movements were imprisoned for their beliefs or otherwise exiled. Some wrote diaries about their struggles, or a collection of testimonies.
Feminist theory also impacts Mihaly in other way: her study of changes in language. For example, Spanish-speaking countries call their president “el presidente.” The phrase “la presidenta” refers to the wife of the president. When Chile elected Michelle Bachelet president in 2006, Mihaly said there was some confusion over what she should be called.
But the above is a side interest. Mihaly’s true passion lies with teaching Spanish, molding students and future teachers.
“I’d just like students to know that they’re the absolute best part of my job,” Mihaly said. “I just love advising students and helping them make their career plans and their graduate school plans.”
Department: world languages
Courses taught at EMU: beginning and intermediate Spanish, intro to Hispanic lit, Spanish grammar and comp, Spanish conversation, Hispanic film, Latin American literature, senior seminar, Master’s research projects, Honor’s thesis, intro to women’s studies
Schools attended: Hillsdale College, B.A.; Michigan State University, M.A.; Tulane University, Ph.D. (Spanish with the field of contemporary Latin American Women Writers, with minor in Feminist Literary Theory)
Favorite book: “De amor y de sombra” (Of Love and Shadows) by Isabel Allende
Favorite music: reggae, salsa, and pop; Beatles, Celia Cruz, and Ziggy Marley are favorites
Favorite movie: I’m a devoted fan of movies, so my favorite changes all the time. Recently: “Juno.” In the past: “Kiss of the Spider Woman.”
Favorite thing to do in spare time: travel, read, explore
Describe yourself in three words: curious, compassionate, dedicated
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In a leadership position on campus, devoted to quality programming and advising of students. And, around the world, continuing to create new study/travel opportunities.http://www.emyouthemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/PakmodeWebLogo.png
