Class of 2026
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Majors: Romance Studies and English
Minor: Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Mellon Project: Cervantes and the Ethics of the Person in Don Quixote (1605, 1615) by Miguel de Cervantes
The purpose of my project is to examine what it means to be human. Cervantes helps us study this complexity by exploring social justice across a variety of scenarios, which resonate with our current concerns about migration, race, gender, and violence. He twists the conventions of chivalry, romance, and the pastoral, challenging readers’ expectations to shed light on Don Quixote’s ability to see the totality of humanity in those society rejects as ‘other’ (who oftentimes are vulnerable individuals). This proposal research isn’t to change the thinking, arguments, or beliefs of those against immigrants or immigrant rights, it is only to cultivate empathy in their critical thinking. I’m actually excited about this proposal research because it is for immigrants themselves, especially first or second generation with either Spanish, Italian, or English as their first/second/third language—like me.
Brief Bio: I am an advocate for equal distribution of knowledge because although my research holds complex arguments, concepts, and ideas, I will make it comprehensible to any person interested in learning how their life intertwines with Don Quixote and the deeper analysis of the various ethical perspectives. Apart from being a fan of Cervantes’ writing and his time period, I’m also passionate about languages; therefore, I will be exploring the Spanish, Italian, and English annotations in those three different language versions of the novel Don Quixote. Don Quixote inspired me to build The English Table—where both international and domestic students who have English as their second language can practice it no matter the level of their proficiency—and as founder and president of The English Table, I admire languages for their beauty and power to foster strong bonds in a community.