Student SpotlightErin Griffis '23

Majors: Spanish and Hispanic Studies, Environmental Studies
"I have always had a pull towards learning a second language, and Spanish has been most accessible to me. Past travel experiences in Argentina and Puerto Rico and the yearning for more cultural knowledge led me to HWS, where I knew I could pursue a major in Spanish and study abroad in Seville, Spain. Professor Fernando Rodriguez-Mansilla introduced me to this abroad program before I committed to HWS, and his classes helped challenge and prepare me to use my Spanish in the real world.
Professor May Farnsworth has also been very supportive throughout my Spanish career at HWS, working with me on a Summer Research project in Translation, Latinx empowerment and bilingual community service. Our focus on Latinx advocacy, specifically bilingual education, has shown me that my love for Spanish can be highly impactful in the Latinx community. In the future, I’d like to help Spanish-speaking children feel supported and ready to navigate the world."