Marina Llorente
Associate Professor of Spanish Language and Literature

 Spain native Marina Llorente came to the United States on a teaching exchange program and “liked it so much that I decided to stay,” she says. She earned her Ph.D. in contemporary Spanish poetry at the University of Kansas, and then realized she wanted to be in a small liberal arts atmosphere where she could teach about her research. “At St. Lawrence, I saw the possibility of growing as a teacher and a scholar while simultaneously becoming a member of this academic community,” says Llorente, a seven-year member of the faculty.

Llorente directed the St. Lawrence program in her hometown, Madrid, in 1999-2000, and looks forward to directing it again next year. “It is one of the most enriching experiences I've had as a professor,” says Llorente. “I want to pass on the passion that I feel about Spanish culture to my students. To watch them experience the language and culture of my own country is wonderful.”

Llorente is also passionate about diversity. She helps her students gain exposure to the Hispanic community by bringing them to the Ogdensburg correctional facility, where they tutor Spanish-speaking inmates. She works with students in “La Casa Latina” theme house and is an advisor to the Spanish Writing Center .