Betsy Dahms, Ph.D.
Professor of SpanishBetsy Dahms (they/them) is a Professor of Spanish in the program of International Languages and Cultures. Their research focuses on Chicana Feminist literature, more specifically the life and work of Gloria Anzaldúa and gender and sexuality studies. Dahms employs the theoretical framework of gender and sexuality studies to explore gender performativity, queer theories, the intersection of queerness, spirituality and masculinities in various Latinx author's works. While they have been largely concerned with the construction of identity in all its manifestations, their areas of research have expanded into curriculum development, contemplative practices, team teaching and the co-production of knowledge. Dahms actively seeks out creative collaborations with colleagues.
In addition to teaching Spanish language courses, they serve as director of the Latin American, Caribbean and Latinx Studies certificate and the minor in Gender and Sexuality Studies.
- B.A., Spanish, Centre College, 2003
- M.A., Hispanic Studies, University of Kentucky, 2009
- Ph.D., Hispanic Studies, University of Kentucky, 2012
- Certificate, Women's and Gender Studies, University of Kentucky, 2012
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I)
- SPAN-1002 (Elementary Spanish II)
- SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I)
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II)
- SPAN-3030 (Intro to Hispanic Literature)
- SPAN-3101 (Spanish Conversation)
- SPAN-3102 (Spanish Composition)
- SPAN-4350 (Language Internship)
- SPAN-4484 (Senior Capstone)
- SPAN-4785 (Curanderismo)
- XIDS-2100 (Intro to Gender Studies)
Fall 2024 Sections
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 09 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 5AG eCore Courses External Resource
- XIDS-2100 (Intro Latin American Studies) Section: 01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-3102 (Spanish Composition) Section: 01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-4484 (Senior Capstone) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
Summer 2024 Sections
- SPAN-1002 (Elementary Spanish II) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
Spring 2024 Sections
- SPAN-1002 (Elementary Spanish II) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-1002 (Elementary Spanish II) Section: 04 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 5CG eCore Courses External Resource
- SPAN-4484 (Senior Capstone) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
Fall 2023 Sections
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 02 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 5AG eCore Courses External Resource
- XIDS-2100 (Intro to Lat Am.Carib/Latinx) Section: C01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-4350 (Language Internship) Section: 01D external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
Summer 2023 Sections
- SPAN-1002 (Introductory Spanish II) Section: 01S external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 01S external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 01S external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-3101 (Spanish Conversation) Section: 01S external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-3102 (Spanish Composition) Section: 02S external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-4785 (Costa Rica Literature) Section: 01S external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-4785 (Costa Rica contemporanea) Section: 02S external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
Spring 2023 Sections
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: E04 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: E05 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 101 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
Fall 2022 Sections
- SPAN-1002 (Elementary Spanish II) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-1002 (Elementary Spanish II) Section: E02 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 5AG eCore Courses External Resource
Summer 2022 Sections
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: E03 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
Spring 2022 Sections
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 04 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-1002 (Elementary Spanish II) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 5AG eCore Courses External Resource
- SPAN-3030 (Intro to Hispanic Literature) Section: E02 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
Fall 2021 Sections
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: E03 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 8AG eCore Courses External Resource
Summer 2021 Sections
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 1CG eCore Courses External Resource
Spring 2021 Sections
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: E01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: E02 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 5AG eCore Courses External Resource
- SPAN-4785 (Curanderismo) Section: E02 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
Fall 2020 Sections
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 07 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 08 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 5BG eCore Courses External Resource
- XIDS-2100 (Intro to Gender Studies) Section: 09 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
- SPAN-4484 (Senior Capstone) Section: 01 external Syllabus via Concourse External Resource
Dahms, Betsy. Ana Zapata-Calle, Angélica Lozano-Alonso and Bryan Pearce-Gonzales.“Incorporating Latinx Studies in the Spanish Major: A Case Study.” MIFLC Review: Journal of the Mountain Interstate Foreign Language Conference. 21 (2022).
Dahms, Betsy. “Imaginar un hogar: desplazamiento psicológico y su relación con la imaginación en tres obras de Gloria Anzaldúa.” Hispan@s en el mundo: Emoción y desplazamiento.Eds. Verena Dolle,Danae Gallo Gonzálezand Mirjam Leuzinger. De Gruyter
Dahms, Betsy. “Formalizing Fluidity: Queer Second Person Narration and the Posthumanistic Turn in Anzaldúa’s Later Writing.” Label Me Latina/o: Journal of Twentieth and Twenty-first Latino Literary Production. Eds.Michele Shauland Kathryn Quin-
Cormican, Muriel, Betsy Dahms, and Robert Kilpatrick. “Embracing Disciplinary Trouble: Silos Identity, and Shared Intellectual Endeavor.” Feminist German Studies 36.1. Eds. HesterBaer and Alexandra M. Hill. U of Nebraska P, (2020). 24-39.
Dahms, Betsy. “Anzaldúa, Gloria.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature. Oxford University Press. Article published November 2019. [View Publication External Resource]
Dahms, Betsy, with AnaLouise Keating and Kelli Zaytoun."Working with Anzaldúa’s Writing Notas: An Archival Experiment in Three Parts." El Mundo Zurdo 5. Eds. Domino Perez, Larissa Mercado-López and Sonia Saldívar-Hull. San Francisco: Aunt Lute P, 2016
Dahms, Betsy."Queering Citizenship: UndocuQueer and Immigration Reform." Diálogo: An Interdisciplinary Studies Journal Published by the Center for Latino Research at DePaul University. 18.2 (2015): 79-90.
Dahms, Betsy. “Compulsory Heterosexuality in Gloria Anzaldúa’s ‘El Paisano is a bird of good omen.’” El Mundo Zurdo 3: Selected Works from the 2011 Meeting of the Society for the Study of Gloria Anzaldúa. Eds. Antonia Castañeda, Sonia Saldíva
Dahms, Betsy.“Shamanic Urgency and Two-way Movement as Writing Style in the Works of Gloria Anzaldúa.” Letras Femeninas. 38.2 (2012): 9-27.
Dahms, Betsy.“Es mucho hombre esta mujer: Una lectura Queer de Teresa en Sab.” Retomando la palabra: las pioneras del diecinueve en diálogo con la crítica contemporánea. Eds. Claire Martin and Nelly Goswitz. Madrid: Iberoamericana/Vervuert, 2012.165
Dahms, Betsy. “Self-destructive embodiment of the “Joto Body” in Rigoberto González’s ‘The Abortionist’s Lover.’” Divergencias: Revista de estudios lingüísticos y literarios. 9.2(2011): 16-24.*
Dahms, Betsy.“Staging Gender Trouble: Sabina Berman’s ‘The Mustache’” DisClosure, the University of Kentucky’s Social Theory Journal. (2011): 62-71.*
Dahms, Betsy. "Pussy for Life: Adherence and Deviance from the Dominican Masculine Code in Junot Díaz's Drown." MIFLC Review: Journal of the Mountain Interstate Foreign Language Conference. 14 (Fall 2007-08). 75-90.*
Daniels, Mary B. and Elizabeth Dahms. “A Case Study of Community-Based Learning: Centre College in Danville, Kentucky” ADFL Association of Departments of Foreign Languages. 2,3 (Winter/Spring 2008): 61-65.*