Dr. Catalina Iannone will be joining our Department in autumn 2022 as an Assistant Professor of Spanish. Before she begins working with us in the fall, let’s dive into where she has been, what type of projects she is currently pursuing, and why she is excited about joining us at Ohio State.
Dr. Iannone earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish in 2010 from New York University, then continued in their MA program in Spanish Literature in Madrid, Spain. While in Spain, she also participated in the Auxiliares de Conversación program (NALCAP). Upon returning, she received her PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in 2018.
Following her PhD, Dr. Iannone was offered a visiting professorship from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas in their Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures. In 2020, she was hired at SUNY Oswego as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Modern Languages.
Dr. Iannone summarizes her current research and teaching as “grounded in comparative literary and cultural studies, with an emphasis on race and urban space in the Iberian Peninsula.” Her current book project, under contract with Vanderbilt University Press, is titled Contested Cities: Race, Culture, and Urban Development on the Iberian Peninsula:
“This manuscript explores discursive trends in the contemporary development of two neighborhoods – Lavapiés (Madrid) and Mouraria (Lisbon) between the global financial crisis of 2008 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. I consider the critical role of these spaces as sites for negotiating community in contemporary Iberia, with particular attention to how perceived racial difference is articulated in the context of neoliberal democracy, neocolonial migration, and global financial crises. While focused on Spain and Portugal, the manuscript brings to the forefront questions concerning cultural identity and the socio-cultural impact of demographic change that are applicable across historical, regional, and cultural contexts, contributing to a larger body of research across disciplines critically engaging with race and urban space.”
She is also working on a geographical information system (GIS) project titled “The Atlas of Resistance (Lavapiés)” which uses GIS technology to create a visual rendering of the multifaceted evolution of Lavapiés throughout the early aughts, providing the digital framework to study cultural interventions staged in opposition to the displacement and surveillance of the neighborhood’s residents.
In addition to her other works, she has a second book project related to the environmental humanities. She studies how intersecting health and climate crises complicate contemporary spatial practices and cultural narratives on the Iberian Peninsula, advocating for broad engagement with race, culture, and urban development.
This will be Dr. Iannone’s first time living in the Midwest. As someone who does urban studies, she is excited to be in the growing city of Columbus. “I will enjoy being in a place where you can study cities while also living in a city.”
When asked specifically about Ohio State, Dr. Iannone said, “I am really excited to be in a department that is primarily focused on Spanish and Portuguese.” She is drawn to the interdisciplinary aspect of the department and is excited about the potential for collaboration within the department and across campus. Working in both the undergraduate and graduate level is also a compelling part about joining the Ohio State community for Dr. Iannone.
The Department of Spanish and Portuguese looks forward to having Dr. Catalina Iannone in the fall!
