Name: Callie Summerlin
Classification: junior
Hometown: Groves
Major/Minor: English/Spanish
Research topic: An analysis of Miguel de Unamuno’s novella “St. Emmanuel the Good Martyr,” including the influence of the author’s philosophy and religious beliefs and the problems that arise in translation from Spanish to English
Synopsis of research: As a recently named McNair Scholar, Summerlin plans an in-depth analysis of a novella by Miguel de Unamuno, a Spanish philosopher who died in 1936. In June, she will travel to Spain for a one-month study abroad program at the Universidad de Salamanca, where Unamuno lived and worked. After her mentor Dr. Catalina Castillon introduced her to Unamuno’s work, Summerlin decided to tailor her research topic to take advantage of her unique opportunity to experience Unamuno’s culture first hand. She expects to benefit from Castillon’s knowledge of Spanish literature, history and culture and rely on the expertise of her other mentor, Dr. Steven Zani, in her literary theory.
Dates of research: December 2007 to present
Faculty mentors: Dr. Catalina Castillon and Dr. Steven Zani
Callie Summerlin: “I’m actually going to travel to Salamanca, where Unamuno lived, and after experiencing the culture, I will be able to say, ‘This is where he came from; this is who he was; and maybe this was the reason he felt the way he did.’”
