The Department of Romance Languages is excited to welcome five new faculty members to the University of Georgia in Fall 2026. Each brings new perspectives and expertise to our Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian programs. 

María José Gutiérrez Jiménez joins us as Assistant Professor of Spanish and Latinx Studies. Her research brings together Latin American and Latinx studies, migration studies, and affect theory, with a particular focus on undocumented migration from the Andes to the United States.

Assistant Professor of Portuguese Cris Lira specializes in contemporary Brazilian literature, examining themes of women’s writing, gender, violence, exile, post-dictatorship, and memory. 

Juan Berríos joins our Spanish program as Assistant Professor of Hispanic Linguistics, specializing in the acquisition of linguistic variation in Spanish. 

In Italian, Assistant Professor Giampaolo Molisina focuses on contemporary Italian cinema and literature, with research spanning poetry in cinematic expression, urban and visual culture, and the connections between Italy and Latin America. 

Finally, Clinical Assistant Professor Patricia Catoira brings years of experience connecting Spanish language learning to real-world experiences and professional contexts, helping students develop practical language skills they can apply in their future careers in areas such as health professions and business.

Together, our new faculty bring new perspectives, diverse research interests, and innovative opportunities for students across the department. Be sure to keep an eye out for their courses and directory listings to learn more about their work!