Rodríguez Villar brings experiential learning into the classroom
“I was raised in the idea of knowing the world, traveling a lot to meet people, having a lot of experiences.”
Growing up in Santiago de Compostela in the region of Galicia, Spain, Alejandra Rodríguez Villar describes her medieval hometown as a land of tourists and emigrants. You may recognize the town as the home of The Camino de Santiago or the Way of St. James. However, Rodríguez Villar was the first in her immediate family to relocate to a different country to find a living.
“I am extremely lucky to have been born in my family. My father, Luis Rodríguez Miguez, was a doctor who raised me in the love for knowledge and the scientific approach, teaching me to leave my feelings behind and accept the evidence, no matter if I liked it or not, if it fit my narrative or not. He taught me to practice the detachment that is necessary for the quest for truth, and the temperance to understand that in the end, nothing can stop it. My mother, Mariluz Villar Otón, is an artist and thanks to her I grew up being exposed to the most beautiful creations that human beings have imagined. My mother and her love for beauty taught me that it expresses itself in many forms, places and periods. And because of that, I embrace the whole world as my own gallery, ready to be discovered and enjoyed.”
Rodríguez Villar was an active thespian in Spain and became a fan of the United States as a young adult, annually visiting a close friend in New York City. When she decided to pursue her doctoral degree, Rodríguez-Villar knew that she wanted to study in the U.S., which she did.
She received her doctorate in romance studies from the Duke University Graduate School in 2018 before joining the faculty at Hanover as an assistant professor of Spanish.
“Hanover is a great fit for me. This is why I chose it when they offered me the job because I truly believe in liberal arts education. I guess that everyone here believes in that, but I really think that we need people that know a little bit about everything.”
This worldview translates into her classes too! Rodríguez-Villar integrates her passion for theatre with her Spanish heritage, allowing her students to become more immersed in the culture.
“Doing theatre is one of the most special experiences because it involves emotion, intellect, creativity, teamwork, and in the case of the Cervantes’ interludes a lot of fun! I have had a wonderful time in these theatrical May Term courses. I get to know the students on a whole different level and we all get engaged in a truly dynamic experience that changes my life.”
In the classroom, Rodríguez Villar aspires to teach more than just content, but also the curiosity of learning and the skills to learn and ask for help. She has adopted a flipped classroom model, focusing her efforts on the students and their learning experience, and introducing different activities and technologies during class.
“There are two things that are appealing about teaching to me. One is that it’s almost like being a gardener. You know it’s something that you are working on and you can see the results. You can see people flourish. And the other thing is … everything that I teach, my field of expertise, I truly, truly love it. And I get to show people how awesome my culture is.”
Outside of work, Rodríguez Villar loves to read and learn, recently exploring coding, horseback riding and cycling. She is also an avid traveler, frequently taking road trips across the country with her husband, Rodney. She spends her holiday breaks in Spain and the rest of the year in Hanover with her husband and their three cats: Jazzy, Bagels and Muffin.
