Dr. Silva joined the faculty of the Department of Foreign Languages as Assistant Professor of Spanish in the fall of 2005. He teaches all levels of Spanish, including courses that carefully analyze Spanish and Latin American culture through film.
He is a native of Peru, moved to the United States in the 1980s, and is now an American citizen. With an undergraduate degree in English and Comparative Literature, he switched to Spanish Literature for his M.A. and Ph.D., receiving both degrees from the University of California at Irvine. Dr. Silva has taught at UC-Irvine, Chapman University, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
By training and experience, his areas of research are contemporary Spanish/Latin American film, literature, philosophy, critical theory, theater, cultural studies, translation, and immigration issues. His current research work concentrates on the plight of immigrants—to Europe and the USA—as portrayed in film, literature, and media outlets. He believes that films are cultural productions that can provoke lively discussions about the relationship between fiction and reality. Additionally, he does comparative analyses of literary and filmic texts. Presently he is promoting cultural awareness of global events through a series of film screenings, presentations, and other cultural events on and off campus.
He is also writing a book of interviews with Venezuelan filmmakers and editing a couple of videos: one is a documentary about the presidential elections in Venezuela; the other is a short film entitled “Blindness & Insight.” Dr. Silva’s work has been recognized by having received the University of California President’s Fellowship; the Third Prize in the International Literary Contest José Martí for his paper on the works of Mario Vargas Llosa; the Bronze Award for Excellence, awarded by New Realities, Louisville, Kentucky, for translating an educational manuscript for the University of California at Irvine; the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, awarded by the University of California at Irvine; the National Hispanic Scholarship Award; the Pre-Graduate Mentorship Fellowship, awarded by the University of California at Irvine; the UC-Irvine Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship; the Donald and Dorothy Strauss Endowed Scholarship, awarded to a Community College Transfer Student; the First Thomas Heaney Scholarship, awarded by the English Department for the best essay written in English; and the Volunteer Diploma, awarded by the Tutorial Center at Golden West College, for excellence in service as Master Tutor in History and Philosophy. Comments about KSU: One of the advantages I appreciate most from being an Assistant Professor at Kennesaw State University is the opportunity to work in a variety of interdisciplinary projects, as well as take leadership roles on issues pertaining to the future not only of my department but beyond. At the moment, I am part of the Center for African & African Diaspora Studies, the Year of the Atlantic World, the American Studies Program, as well as other very active groups which are trying to make a difference.
Concurrently, I am also part of the Curriculum Development Committee in my department as we continue to develop our MAT program. Overall, as someone who comes from California via Las Vegas, KSU offers the best environment to grow professionally, while being located close to Atlanta, one of the most culturally vibrant cities in America. Advice to students: Try to establish a working relationship with your professors. Take advantage of this time in your life to learn as much as you can about yourself and the world around you. Your professors love what they do, so approach them with your inquiries and projects. In the process, you will learn how to think for yourself and how you can make a difference in the world we live in. Don’t be shy; your ideas count! My hobbies: I love to read and watch films, as well as comment on cultural and current events. I walk/run close to seven miles as many times as possible during the week, and enjoy riding my bike at Kennesaw Mountain and other places nearby.
When it comes to cooking, eating, listening to music, and dancing, all I can say is ¡Viva la vida!
Favorite sayings: In the end we will remember more the silence of our friends than the insults of our enemies. M. L. King, Jr.
All the darkness of the world cannot extinguish the light of a small candle. Reza Deghati Guiliano
It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC)
Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater. Gail Godwin
Abundance of knowledge does not teach men to be wise. Heraclitus It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving. Mother Teresa
Tell me, I will forget; show me, I may remember; involve me, and I will understand. Confucius
Teaching is its own reward. E. P. S.
To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with. Mark Twain
El verdadero amor no es el que perdona nuestros defectos, sino el que no los conoce. J. Benavente
Es tan corto el amor y es tan largo el olvido. Pablo Neruda
El amor nace de un flechazo; la amistad del intercambio frecuente y prolongado. Octavio Paz
Anger is contagious. Sandra Cisneros
