Metropolitan State University of Denver

Dr Ibon Izurieta

Personal Biography Statement

I was born in the Basque Country, the southern half of the Basque land that belongs to Spain (the northern part is French territory). My home town is Bilbao which has become better known since the Guggenheim museum was built by American architect Frank Gehry. My mother tongue is the Basque language which has no relationship to French or Spanish. In fact, Basque is a language that has less in common with Spanish than English does. I also speak Spanish as the co-official language of the Spanish half of the Basque Country.

Research Areas/Interests

I research historical, political, sociological, cultural, artistic and literary aspects of the coexistence of Basque and Spanish languages and cultures in the Basque Country but also contemporary aspects of Spanish literature, film and society focused primarily in Spain rather than Latin America, the only exception being Mexico. I love Mexico and I organize trips for students every summer and during the academic year. We have had programs in Cuernavaca, Puebla and Guadalajara and we are currently working on establishing a program in Oaxaca. As a Colorado resident and a professor at MSU Denver, an institution that aspires to become a Hispanic Serving Institution, I believe that we need to maintain a commitment with Mexico. It is a fascinating country and a country I love as an "español pocho".

I have several articles published in professional journals covering different aspects of Spanish and Basque literature and Film, Literary Theory and Criticism and I am currently finishing a manuscript on the philosopher, writer, cultural critic Miguel de Unamuno who was born in Bilbao (like myself) and bridged the cultural divide of Spanish and Basque perspectives in literature, culture, history and philosophy.

Educational Biography

My postgraduate education was completed all in the United States at the University of Iowa where I obtained a Master of Arts in Comparative Literature and an MA and a doctorate in Spanish.

My undergraduate work, which culminated with a degree called "Licenciatura" equivalent to an advanced Bachelors with some postgraduate work at the Master's level, is from the Universidad de Deusto in Bilbao.

Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is guided by one fundamental principal: how can I best inspire students to develop critical thinking that is open and welcomes all possibilities but also questions the foundational bases of grand ideological frameworks.

In order to achieve that goal I welcome students to frequent one-on-one visits in my office or elsewhere so that my relationship with students is not limited to class time and expands on the material worked on in class.

I have decades of experience (yes, I am that old) in teaching all aspects of Spanish culture and language from the Beginning levels of the language to Latin American and Peninsular literatures.

Courses Taught

MDL-3800,SPA-1010,SPA-1800,SPA-2800,SPA-3110,SPA-3140,SPA-3150,SPA-3200
,SPA-3220,SPA-3250,SPA-3800,SPA-4010

Office Hours

Monday - [12:00 to 13:00]
Tuesday - [12:00 to 16:00]
Wednesday - [12:00 to 13:00]
Thursday - [12:00 to 16:00]

Current Semester Schedule