Erica Cobb

As a professor of Spanish and Literary Translation, I encourage my students to immerse themselves in another country’s culture and literature. Learning another language not only allows us to communicate in that language; it opens a window into an entirely new culture, allowing us to see, process and express ourselves in new and myriad ways, tapping into alternate aesthetics, psychologies, philosophies, and even cosmovisions. I have both witnessed and experienced this expansion of self, living, working, and studying in over a dozen countries and I am fascinated by the idea of personal and cultural identity, multiplicity, and reinvention. Working as a literary translator, I also am gifted the opportunity to amplify the voices of my authors, helping them reach a broader audience, participating in a rich heritage that has carried countless words and ideas across borders and forward through history. As a College Fellow, I believe my role is to inspire and pique curiosity, to encourage experimentation with language and perception. In short, I think I have the greatest job in the world.