The University's Spanish department is now home to two professors honored with a form of knighthood by the king of Spain after Prof. David Gies was recently awarded the title of Encomienda de Número of the Order of Isabel the Catholic by King Juan Carlos I of Spain. Former Spanish Prof. Javier Herrero received the award in 1985. Gies was honored last night with a reception at Carr's Hill hosted by University President John T. Casteen, III.
According to Casteen, the award is given for extraordinary service to Spanish culture and was created in honor of Queen Isabella by King Ferdinand VII in 1815.
Casteen added that during Gies' 37 years teaching at the university level, he has accomplished exactly that.
"He is an example of one of the most distinguished careers in the field," Casteen said.
University Spanish Prof. Fernando Opere said one of Gies' greatest strengths during his career has been his passion for and extensive knowledge of Spanish culture.
"For me, David is an intellectual leader," Opere said. "He has so much energy and passion -- it's truly contagious."
Casteen, Opere and Herrero emphasized that Gies has brought this energy into all he has accomplished during his career.
According to Casteen, Gies' accomplishments have been heavily influential because they examine not only the Spanish language and literature, but focus on Hispanic culture as a whole.
Gies was one of the founders of the University's Valencia program, which is now one of the largest European study abroad program run by any American university, according to Casteen.
He added that Gies also has been instrumental in expanding students' knowledge of both language and culture simultaneously, citing one of Gies' January Term courses in which students traveled to Madrid and discussed politics in Spanish film.
"Students watched two to three Spanish films a day, and with that kind of saturation, you learn the language and what is going on politically," Casteen said, noting later that students told him they went on the trip and watched movies only to come home having learned Spanish.
Outside the classroom, Gies said he has written 13 books and about 100 articles during his career and is now the editor of a journal dedicated to 18th century history, literature, art and thought called Dieciocho, which means "18" in Spanish.
Though Gies' accomplishments have been exemplary in the eyes of many of his colleagues, he simply considers himself lucky to have received such an honor.
"I think what's neat about this is that it highlights the work the Spanish department has done," he said, adding that the award is as important to him as the opportunity he has to teach every day.
He said his passion for the Spanish language and culture is one of the things that fuels his desire to continue writing and researching.
"Every morning I have the honor to get to say 'Yes!' in anticipation of the day -- Spanish gives me that," he said.
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