Misty Pursel

I am an assistant teaching professor in the Spanish Basic Language Program and have taught Spanish 001, 002, and 003 at Penn State. I received my B.A. in Spanish and English, with a focus on literature and creative writing, from Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. During my junior year, I studied abroad in Valparaíso, Chile. At Penn State, my research interests include immigration and exile in the Americas, primarily in the 20^th century. I graduated with an M.A. in Comparative Literature in 2008.

My goal is to create a classroom environment that encourages students to speak Spanish without feeling intimidated. I like to incorporate culture and current events in my teaching and create conversational activities that are interesting and unexpected.