Rice University's Castañeda to Offer TAMIU Summer Commencement Address

Dr. James Agustín Castañeda, professor of Spanish in the Department of Hispanic and Classical Studies at Rice University, will be Commencement Speaker at Summer Commencement Exercises for Texas A&M International University on Friday, August 8 at 8 p.m. on the University Green.

Dr. Castañeda received his Bachelors degree from Drew University and his Masters and Doctorate degree from Yale University.

His research focuses on Spanish Golden Age literature. Castañeda is the author of many publications, including articles in the Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, the Bulletin of Hispanic Studies and the Modern Language Journal.

For the past few years, he has been researching a 17th Century play entitled "Los empeños de una casa," by Mexican playwright Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and is also interested in the classical myth of Progne and Filomena in 17th Century Spanish drama. Also known as Philomela and Procne, this classical Greek myth details a family tragedy resulting in the transformation of two sisters into birds.

In addition, Castañeda is the chairman of NCAA Initial Eligibility Issues Committee as well as the chair of the NCAA Academics/Eligibility/Compliance Cabinet at Rice University.

For additional information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at 326.2180.