Researcher Spotlight #3
Welcome back to another researcher spotlight! In this series, we take a moment to introduce you to one of our valued team members. This week in the hotseat: Samantha Ruckenstein, Digital Humanities Scholar at the CEMVC.
Sam is passionate about Hispanic literature and culture, memory studies, Jewish studies, and the ways in which these domains intersect with the lived experience of marginalized voices and communities. She continues to hone her expertise as she pursues a PhD in Hispanic Studies at McGill University, where she also lectures and serves as a teaching assistant.
Sam began her time with the CEMVC in May 2020 and her talents are endless – she manages our social media presence, performs website/database maintenance, and has spearheaded the development of our Coats of Arms collection, just to name a few. Her positivity, passion for research, and love of knowledge shine through her contributions, and we consider ourselves lucky to have her on the team.
Sam was kind enough to share a few thoughts on her background and her time with the CEMVC.
Q: Could you tell us a bit more about your studies? What motivates your research?
A: Of course! I am currently a PhD candidate in Hispanic Studies at McGill University with a focus on contemporary Spanish literature. My thesis looks at understanding the role of the woman’s body through theoretical lenses of trauma, disability, and memory. I previously completed my master’s at the University of Toronto with a specialization in medieval Spanish literature and my B.A. at Queen’s University (also in Hispanic Studies).
In terms of what motivates my research, I would say passion. I fell in love with Spanish when I was in high school and when it came to choosing my path and what makes me happy, the answer was always Spanish. With literature, I find that that texts and images present insightful comments on societies and cultures and love finding the hidden gems within them. I’ve managed to create a life around my passion and hope that when I graduate, I can realize my goal of being a professor and researcher.
Q: What inspired you to join the CEMVC?
A: I had been in contact with Dr. Beck through the Canadian Association of Hispanists and really enjoyed working with her. When I heard about the CEMVC and all of the amazing and innovative work being done at the Centre, I put my name forward to get involved. I’m forever thankful for the opportunities Dr. Beck has given me and have enjoyed every minute working with the CEMVC research team.
Q: What is your favourite CEMVC collection to date?
A: This is such a hard question because each collection is so unique, however, I would have to say the Celestina collection. La Celestina is my favourite text and I hope to continue studying (and enjoying) it as I continue my career. Having this database with all of the images helps bring the text to life and opens up so many research questions and ideas that I can’t wait to explore.
Bonus Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?
A: I would go to Madrid. There is something about the city that has captured my heart for the past 10 years and I find myself dreaming of being there constantly. Hopefully I can go back and visit soon!