Associate Professor of Spanish Tony Grubbs has been appointed Chair of the Department of Romance and Classical Studies (RCS) in the College of Arts & Letters at Michigan State University. The five-year appointment is effective August 16, 2020 through August 15, 2025. Dr. Grubbs has been the Interim Chair for the Department of Romance and Classical Studies since August 1, 2018.
Dr. Grubbs has served on the Michigan State University faculty since 2005. He has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses for the Department on a variety of topics that range from Spanish grammar to literature surveys, theater, Don Juan, and graduate courses on medieval and early modern Spanish cultures and literatures.
It is a privilege to continue working as Chair with the faculty and staff of RCS, who I admire more than ever during these times of uncertainty and challenge due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
TONY GRUBBS, CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ROMANCE AND CLASSICAL STUDIES
“It is a privilege to continue working as Chair with the faculty and staff of RCS, who I admire more than ever during these times of uncertainty and challenge due to the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Dr. Grubbs. “Without exception, they have demonstrated remarkable resilience, professionalism, and compassion. Despite the current adversity, we are moving forward to promote the interdisciplinary and cutting-edge research and teaching as well as the inspiring creative projects that the members of our department continue to produce.”
As Chair, Dr. Grubbs will serve as the chief representative of the department and is responsible for educational, research, and service programs; budgetary and personnel matters; and physical facilities. He will also lead the development of long range and strategic planning for the departmental programs while nurturing a culture of care, respect, and support for faculty, staff, and students.
“Dr. Grubbs has a proven record of collaborative leadership in the department and across the University” said Christopher P. Long, Dean of the College of Arts & Letters. “He is a widely respected scholar of Spanish literature with an innovative vision for the central importance of the languages to the core mission of the University. During his time as Interim Chair, Dr. Grubbs has been a strong advocate for equity and inclusion as drivers of academic quality and I look forward to working with him in the years to come. He has been a real champion of the culture of care we are working to create.”
Dr. Grubbs has a proven record of collaborative leadership in the department and across the University.
CHRISTOPHER P. LONG, DEAN OF THE COLLEGE OF ARTS & LETTERS
Dr. Grubbs received his Ph.D. in Spanish Literature from Indiana University in 2005. His research interests include early modern Spanish literature and culture, theatre history, performance theory, and hagiography.
To date, he has published two books and several peer-reviewed articles on early modern theatre and culture. In addition, his transcription and critical edition of Vida y muerte de San Cristóbal by Juan de Benavides is forthcoming in 2021. His current book project examines how the Counterreformation influenced dramatic representation of saints in the hagiographical theatre of early modern Iberia.
