{"id":31561,"date":"2019-08-22T15:32:29","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T19:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/college.unc.edu\/?p=31561"},"modified":"2024-07-02T17:12:15","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T17:12:15","slug":"research-uncovered-juan-carlos-gonzalez-espitia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/collegearchive.unc.edu\/?p=31561","title":{"rendered":"Research UNCovered: Juan Carlos Gonz\u00e1lez Espitia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Research UNCovered<\/em> is a weekly series showcasing the many faces of research at Carolina, from undergraduate students to faculty, across all disciplines. Each Wednesday at Endeavors<\/em><\/a>, learn what inspired our researchers to pursue their field, how they\u2019ve overcome obstacles, and a little about their lives beyond their labs and offices.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Juan Carlos Gonz\u00e1lez Espitia is an associate professor of Spanish in the Department of Romance Studies within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. In his historical study of syphilis in the Spanish-speaking world, he explores the ways the disease affects private and public life, literature, the arts, medical discourse, politics, and public policy.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Juan
Juan Carlos Gonz\u00e1lez Espitia (photo by Megan May)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Q: When you were a child, what was your response to this question: \u201cWhat do you want to be when you grow up?\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

A: <\/b>This is a very difficult question. I don\u2019t even know now what I want to be if I grow up! When I was young, I wanted to be a nuclear astrophysicist. I suppose that daydreaming, the news about the NASA space program, the fact that Steve Austin \u2014 \u201cThe Six Million Dollar Man\u201d \u2014 had been an astronaut before his accident, and my knack for remembering all the trivia about space exploration played a role in my profession never-to-be.<\/p>\n

Q: Share the pivotal moment in your life that helped you choose your field of study.<\/b><\/p>\n

\"ResearchA: <\/b>I thought of becoming a lawyer, a priest, a military officer, and a farmer. I received a bachelor\u2019s in philosophy from one university and a bachelor\u2019s in social communication and journalism from another. I did a radio program. I became a book editor in a publishing house while pursuing my master\u2019s in analysis of political, economic, and international contemporary problems.<\/p>\n

I loved everything I did, but something was missing. I was not getting any younger and I could not continue studying indefinitely. When Betty Osorio, a professor at the<\/p>\n

\"Gonz\u00e1lez
Gonz\u00e1lez Espitia traveled to the Folgefonna glacier in Norway with his wife Birgitte (left) and his two daughters, Maya and Alba.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Universidad de los Andes in Bogot\u00e1, told me that I should study literature I was briefly skeptical. Then it was perfectly clear \u2014 that was what I had been doing all along and what I wanted to keep doing. The perk? I can continue studying indefinitely, even when I am not getting any younger.<\/p>\n

\n

Q: Tell us about a time you encountered a tricky problem. How did you handle it and what did you learn from it?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: <\/b>In the Department of Romance Studies, we are proud to have housed three scholarly publications \u2014 Romance Notes<\/em>, Hispan\u00f3fila<\/em>, and the NCSRLL Book Series \u2014 for over half a century. Nevertheless, history and tradition can make us rigid, oblivious to possibility, and unaware of our mistakes. While we were clearly successful in our standing in the field, the outdated way we were publishing was putting us at risk of becoming unsustainable. With the support of our incredible departmental administrative team we engaged in a thorough and successful process of modernization at all levels. We continue being touchstones in our field, proven by time and quality, but we are thriving only because of change.<\/p>\n

Q: Research in 5 words. <\/b><\/p>\n

A:<\/b> \u201cSyphilis teaches us a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n

Q: What are your passions outside of research?<\/b><\/p>\n

A: <\/b>I love cooking, although I am not that good at it. There is something very special about the whole process: putting different things into play, getting a rapid result, experimenting and having your friends and family as guinea pigs. But I especially like the happiness of sharing meals around the table \u2014 there is nothing better than that. Cooking gives me perspective, reminding me that something as basic as eating can produce joy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Research UNCovered<\/em> delves into the lives of UNC researchers from all disciplines and career levels, showcasing not only their research prowess but personal experiences in academia and beyond. Know someone Endeavors<\/em> should feature? Nominate a researcher<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Juan Carlos Gonz\u00e1lez Espitia is an associate professor of Spanish in the Department of Romance Studies within the UNC College of Arts & Sciences. In his historical study of syphilis in the Spanish-speaking world, he explores the ways the disease affects private and public life, literature, the arts, medical discourse, politics, and public 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