Nathan Richardson
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, College of Liberal and Fine Arts, Honors College
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Languages: English (native); Spanish (near-native); Italian, French, Gallego, Portuguese (Reading and Speaking-for-Survival)
Short Bio: I’m a California native: born in Berkeley, raised in Los Angeles and then Huntington Beach, where most of my family (eleven kids) still lives today. Unable to make it as a professional athlete (or even a passable high school one), I found solace in books, movies, art, music, and nature. After high school I spent a couple of years in Argentina, and experience that left me questioning just about everything. For answers, I turned to literature, of course. Over the years I found history helped as well, to say nothing of political science, philosophy, and languages. I studied these formally at Brigham Young University and later the University of Kansas. While in grad school my wife and I spent a year living and teaching in Spain, then returned a decade later with our three little kids tagging along. At some point I began coaching soccer and helping run a local club. We won many games. And lost some too. Eventually we earned enough points to move to San Antonio where I discovered mangonadas and trail running. Today, when not drinking (mangonadas, thank you) and trail running, I play and coach soccer, teach ESL, direct choirs, and, of course, do my day job (see below).
Research: I’ve written three scholarly books on contemporary Spain and Hispanic literature in general, Postmodern Paletos (2002), Constructing Spain (2010), and Novels for the End of a World (2019). Lots of articles as well. I’m currently at work on a Spanish-language study of the cultural representations of migration and the Spanish countryside during the twentieth century; working title, Abuelos Made in Spain y otros cuentos nuestros. This past year I published a work of general non-fiction, Camino: The Art of Wandering, a chronicle of and meditation on the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. On the side I've also co-authored a book on the state of youth soccer in the U.S., Shoeless Soccer (2018).
Teaching: My teaching bread and butter is Spanish literature, culture, and history. More recent non-specialization courses include “Culture and History of Peru” (Study Abroad), “Camino de Santiago” (Study Abroad), and “The World Through Soccer” (team-taught with Dr. Matthias Hofferberth). In an earlier life I regularly taught International Studies courses on Globalization. My go-to favorite continues to be my Honors course, “The Art and Politics of Walking.”
Favorite Thing About Honors Students: I love the genuine intellectual curiosity that so many bring to the table. They’re hungry to learn, eager to discuss, and (mostly) ready to go out and get dirty figuring out how the world works.
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