The International Association of Hispanists doubly honored Spanish Prof. David T. Gies by electing him treasurer and selecting him as the keynote speaker at the association's conference in New York this past July.
The association, founded in 1962, is the world's largest international association of Spanish professors.
"I was just bowled over," when the association asked me to deliver the keynote address, Gies said.
His hour-long speech, delivered entirely in Spanish, was entitled "Rococo Eroticism in 18th Century Spanish Poetry," which is one of his areas of expertise.
At the same conference where he spoke, Gies later was elected treasurer, receiving the highest number of votes for any office.
"I am pleased about the election because it will give me the opportunity to serve one of the professional organizations that has been most interesting to me," he said.
The treasurer's duties include collecting dues from members, transferring money to Spain for expenses such as printing brochures and other materials, paying dues for the association's conferences and assuming responsibility for financial accounting on a yearly basis.
His term lasts for three years.
"I'm pleased to be able to help the organization," Gies said.
According to Spanish Prof. Ruth Hill, Gies is "one of the premier figures of hispanism."
Hill said she was not surprised by Gies' election because of his active background with the organization.
Gies has been a member of the association since 1974 and has attended all of the association's triennial conferences since then, held in Bordeaux, France; Toronto, Canada; Venice, Italy; Providence, Rhode Island; Berlin, Germany; Barcelona, Spain; Irvine, California; Birmingham, England; Madrid, Spain; and New York. Next year's conference will be in Monterrey, Mexico.
The main purpose of the association is "to disseminate scholarship on Hispanic culture," Hill said.
It brings together "experts from all over the world at conferences" to discuss topics including pedagogical problems, political issues such as bilingualism in America, the future of Spain and its integration into the European Union, and Latin American political issues, she said.
The association is "an organization that brings together professors of Spanish linguistics, culture, history and literature from around the world," Gies said, thus providing "a forum for the sharing of ideas."
There are more than 1,500 members from 51 countries and territories in the organization.
Despite his additional duties as treasurer, Gies said the election has not placed any strain on the time he devotes to being a University professor.
Gies has taught at the University since 1979, serving as chairman of the Spanish department from 1984-89 and 1992-95. He also was the Faculty Senate chairman from 1999-2000.
Among Gies' accolades is the Thomas Jefferson Award he received last year, which is the University's highest honor. The award recognizes a member of the University community whose character, work and influences exemplify the ideals of the University's founder.
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