Michelle McGowan is a first-generation college student who was born and raised in Chester County, Pa. Like many students, she took Spanish as a high school requirement and discovered that she loved language learning.

During her time as an undergraduate majoring in Spanish and political science, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Granada, Spain and live with a host family, which further cemented her love of travel and experiencing other cultures.

McGowan has taught Spanish at all levels ranging from introductory language courses to advanced literature and composition courses. Her research broadly focuses on post-dictatorial literature produced in the Southern Cone and Spain between 2000 and the present.

In her post-dissertation life, McGowan has returned to some of her favorite hobbies such as reading novels from recent bestseller lists, running 5ks and traveling. She enjoys spending time with friends, family and her retriever mix, Evie.