Hector Amaya, assistant professor of media studies at the University of Virginia, will be the guest speaker at the first Principles of Community Speaker Series event Oct. 11, 2010. 

Amaya will host two sessions from noon until 2 p.m. in Torgersen Museum and from 3:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Solitude at The Inn at Virginia Tech.

Session one, “Ugly Betty: Latinos, Media Perceptions, and Citizenship,” will discuss Latinos representation in mainstream media. Session two, “The Impact of Latinos in the Media on Issues of Pedagogy,” will address practical resources for inclusive pedagogy that supports Latino student success. Registration for each session is available online.

Amaya migrated from Mexico in 1992. His says his status as immigrant has greatly influenced his professional identity and pedagogical style. His research, writing, and teaching focuses on global media, Latin American film, comparative media studies, and Latina/Latino media studies.

Amaya is the author of two books and is chair of the Latina/Latino Communication Studies Division of the National Communication Association. He is also chair of the Latino Caucus of the Society of Cinema and Media Studies.

The Principles of Community Speaker Series is a new initiative designed to provide the campus community more frequent facilitated interactions and dialog concerning diversity issues at Virginia Tech. The speaker series schedule is: Oct. 11, Nov. 11, and Feb. 17, 2011.

The Principles of Community Speaker Series is sponsored by the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, the Center for Instructional Development and Educational Research, and Multicultural Programs and Services.

For additional information, contact Linda Faber at (540) 231-1403.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech takes a hands-on, engaging approach to education, preparing scholars to be leaders in their fields and communities. As the commonwealth’s most comprehensive university and its leading research institution, Virginia Tech offers 240 undergraduate and graduate degree programs to more than 31,000 students and manages a research portfolio of $513 million. The university fulfills its land-grant mission of transforming knowledge to practice through technological leadership and by fueling economic growth and job creation locally, regionally, and across Virginia.

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