Rate My Professor Kalen Oswald

Kalen Oswald is an Associate Professor of Spanish and Department Chair of Modern Languages and Cultures at Albion College. He received his B.A. from Utah State University in 1995, M.A. in 1997, and Ph.D. in 2001 from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Appointed to the faculty in 2002, Oswald has advanced to his current leadership position, overseeing the department while maintaining an active teaching and research profile.

As a specialist in 19th- to 21st-century Spanish literature and culture, Oswald currently focuses his research on post-Franco narrative fiction. He teaches courses across all levels of Spanish language, from elementary Spanish (SPAN 102) to advanced proficiency. His upper-level offerings explore critical aspects of the Spanish-speaking world, including the history and cultures of Spain; introduction to the analysis of literature, film, and painting; cultural artifacts of the Spanish Civil War; the Spanish short story; the classic novel Don Quixote de la Mancha; detective fiction; and Spanish cities. Additional courses include SPAN 201: International Spanish – Soc in Transition, SPAN 303: Spanish for the Professions, SPAN 315: Narrative Arts in Spanish, SPAN 316: Cultural Production in Spanish, SPAN 360: Peninsular Literature & Culture, MLAC 110: International House Residential/Program, MLAC 399: Practicum, SPAN 398: Practicum in Spanish, and SPAN 399: Practicum for Language Pedagogy. Through these classes and his role as department chair, Oswald contributes to the academic mission of fostering linguistic skills and cultural awareness at Albion College.