BATESVILLE, Arkansas — Dr. Mónica Rodríguez, the 2024 recipient of the Lamar Williamson Prize for Faculty Excellence at Lyon College, will present the annual Lamar Williamson Prize Lecture on Tuesday, March 18, at 11 a.m. in the Maxfield Room of Edwards Commons on the Lyon College campus, 2300 Highland Rd., Batesville.
The lecture is free and open to the public.
Dr. Rodríguez’s presentation, titled “Resisting Assimilation and Preserving Identity through Food in Latinx Communities,” will explore the cultural significance of food as a means of maintaining identity and resisting societal pressures to assimilate. Her research is on U.S. Latino literature, images of Latinx in film, and food as a vital link to cultural preservation and an outlet of resistance.
The Lamar Williamson Prize for Faculty Excellence is awarded annually to a Lyon College faculty member who exemplifies outstanding teaching, scholarly achievement, and service to the college and community.
Born in Lima, Peru, Dr. Rodríguez joined the Lyon faculty in 2001. She currently serves as adviser to Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish honor society, and adviser to the Spanish Club. She was named Alpha Chi Professor of the Year for 2012-2013.
Dr. Rodríguez also serves on the Humane Society of Independence County Board of Directors and has volunteered with the organization for more than 10 years. She also volunteers as a translator at parent-teacher conferences, along with her students, and is a former volunteer fitness instructor at the Batesville Community Center.
About Lyon College
Lyon College, a private, liberal arts institution founded in 1872, is the oldest college in the state with its original charter. Ranked by US News & World Report as a 2024 “Best College,” Lyon currently enrolls approximately 660 students from more than 30 states and 18 countries. Students can tailor their education, selecting from 25 majors, as well as pre-professional, individualized options and select graduate programs. Learn more at lyon.edu.
Photo: Dr. Mónica Rodríguez
