Laura Callahan, J.D., Ph.D.

Biography

Dr. Laura Callahan holds a BA in Spanish and International Studies from Baldwin Wallace University, a JD from Thomas M. Cooley Law School, an MA in Spanish from Cleveland State University, and a PhD in Romance Languages (Spanish) from the University of Florida. Her research focuses on the themes of collective memory, psychoanalysis and memory reconstruction (postmemory and prosthetic memory) through documentary film as related to Argentina and the dictatorship that occurred there 1976-1983. She is also interested in the role of physical space in the context of collective memory, and testimony, particularly from immigrants to the United States and other marginalized communities. She has published several documentaries on YouTube related to the immigrant experience.

Selected Publications

• Callahan, L.M., Director. La mezc/a de quienes somos. Documentary made by students of SPN 3948 (Spanish in the Community): https://youtu.be/zlg4V4wjxho 
• Callahan, L.M., Director. De aca pa'lla. Documentary made by students of SPN 3948 (Spanish in the Community): https://youtu.be/eiL3oWr2FOw 
• Lopez, A., Director, Callahan, L.M., Assistant Director. Aquf estoy: entre banderas y co/ores. Documentary made by students of SPN 3948 (Spanish in the Community): https://youtu.be/hURGXU66j54 
• Callahan, L.M. Loque Marfa nos dej6. Documentary about the after-effects of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico: https://youtu.be/1PgjrPCF3yg 

Conference Presentations

• Callahan, L.M. "La Revitalizacion de la memoria en Argentina: el caso de Argentina, 1985." 77^th Annual Kentucky Foreign Languages Conference, April 19, 2024.  
• Callahan, L.M. “Memorias de cristal: (re)imaginando y (re)presentando el espacio de la dictadura en Argentina.” 75^th Annual Kentucky Foreign Languages Conference, University of Kentucky. April 22, 2022.
• Wooten, J. and Callahan, L.M. “Connecting UF Classes and the Global Language Community Through Virtual Exchange.” With Dr. Jennifer Wooten. Interface 2021 Conference, University of Florida, April 15, 2021.
• Callahan, L.M. and Munoz, M. V. “Estrategias para integrar temas de justicia social en el nivel principiante.” 2020 AATSP Annual Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 9-12, 2020.
• Callahan, L.M. “El papel del testimonio oral luego del huracan Maria: el trabajo de David Begnaud en Puerto Rico.” Tercer Programa Academico del Festival de la Palabra, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 12, 2018.
• Callahan, L.M. “Recordar in absentia: el trauma y la posmemoria en el contexto de El ruido de las cosas al caer, de Juan Gabriel Vasquez.” XVIII Coloquio anual de literatura, linguistica y cultura hispanoamericana y peninsular, University of Central Florida, February 22, 2018.
• Callahan, L.M. “Lacasa de Bernarda Alba: aportaciones al cambio sociopolitico posdictadura en Espana.” 12^th Annual Symposium in Spanish and Portuguese Studies, University of Florida, January 27, 2018.
• Callahan, L.M. “Se habla espanol: el acceso a la informaci6n en linea para los latinos en los Estados Unidos.” XV Ohio Latinamericanists Conference, Case Western Reserve University, October 20-21, 2016.
• Callahan, L.M. “‘Alabado sea el Senor’: el reggaeton como testimonio en ‘Coraza divina’ y ‘Corazones’ de Daddy Yankee.” Also panel moderator, “Caribbean Rap, Reggaeton and Identities.” 69^th Annual Kentucky Foreign Languages Conference, University of Kentucky, April 13-16, 2016.

Invited Talks

• Callahan, L.M. “Using High Leverage Teaching Practices to Incorporate Critical Culture in the Classroom.” Presentation to Dr. Jennifer Wooten's FOL 6943 class, October 20, 2022.
• Callahan, L.M. “Introduction to LinguaMeeting.” Presentation to Graduate Assistants in Spanish and Portuguese Studies, University of Florida, September 23, 2022.
• Callahan, L.M. “Using What You Know: Incorporating the Culture Standard into Your Classroom.” Presentation to Dr. Jennifer Wooten's FOL 6943 class, October 14, 2021.
• Callahan, L.M. “Using the Conversation Placement as a Tool in the Beginning Spanish Classroom.” Pedagogy Roundtables, Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies Fall 2019 Orientation, University of Florida.
• Callahan, L.M. “Incorporating Culture into the Beginning Language Classroom Using High Leverage Teaching Practices.” Presentation to Dr. Jennifer Wooten's FOL 6943 class, October 2, 2018.
• Callahan, L.M. “iHabla! Motivating Students to Participate in a Beginning Spanish Classroom.” Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies Fall 2018 Orientation, University of Florida.
• Callahan, L.M. “Lacasa de Bernarda Alba y la dictadura espanola.” Presentation to Dr. Hebat El Attar’s SPN 373 class, Cleveland State University, March 22, 2017.

Funding and Awards

• 2021 I Calvin A. Vanderwerf Award for Excellence in Teaching
  Awarded to the highest ranked graduate assistant at the University of Florida (selected by faculty review committee)
• 2019 I Tinker Foundation Research Grant
  $2500 travel grant for completing doctoral dissertation research in Argentina, awarded by Center for Latin American Studies at University of Florida
• 2018 I Whitney Koonce Memorial Award
  Award to a graduate student in Spanish and Portuguese Studies who demonstrates "tenacity and kindness" during their time at the University of Florida
• 2018 I Lower Division Teaching Award
  Award for excellence in teaching in Lower Division Language Program in Spanish at University of Florida (chosen by faculty)

Courses Taught

• SPAN 101: Spanish Elements I
• SPAN 102: Spanish Elements II
• SPAN 201: Spanish Intermediate I
• SPAN 202: Spanish Intermediate II
• SPAN 301: Composition and Conversation I
• SPAN 680: Hispanics in the Media

Professional Affiliations

• American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Latin American Studies Association
• National Honor Societies: Phi Sigma Iota (Languages); Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish); Sigma Iota Rho (International Studies)
• Organizaci6n de Estudiantes Graduados de Espanol, University of Florida (VP, 2019-2020) State Bar of Michigan
• American Bar Association