Dr. Arribas comes to UAB from Creighton University, where he has served as Professor and Chair of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures since 2010. Before coming to Creighton, Dr. Arribas was an Associate Professor in the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures at Ohio Wesleyan University, where he also chaired the department and directed the Ancient, Medieval & Renaissance Studies program and the Study Abroad program. Prior to Ohio Wesleyan, Dr. Arribas was an Assistant Professor at Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, and an Assistant Professor at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina.Dr. Arribas received his B.S. in Psychology from the Universidad Pontificia in Salamanca, Spain, in 1982. He completed A.B.D. in Social Psychology from the University de Salamanca in 1983. He went on to study Romance Languages and Literatures at the University of Michigan, completing his M.A. in 1988 and a Ph.D in 1993.
Specializing in Early Modern and Golden Age Spanish Literature, Dr. Arribas has numerous publications to his name. He is currently working on two long-term projects, one of which is a digital humanities endeavor focusing on digitizing early Spanish pastoral romances and publishing an edition of the collected works. He has received several significant awards and scholarship support, including a number of NEH grants and multiple projects funded by an Ohio Wesleyan endowment.
Dr. Arribas has also been a highly successful administrator, strengthening the numerous departments that he chaired, building rapport and collaboration among faculty, and growing programs and initiatives to enhance the study of languages and cultures. At Creighton, his work with the curriculum has led to an increase in foreign language majors and minors and a greater visibility for his department.
“Dr. Arribas’ international perspective and contacts will advance the goals for globalization as outlined in the College of Arts and Sciences Strategic Plan,” says Dean Palazzo. “His presence will bring new opportunities for our students through the design of international programs. His scholarship in Spanish literature will add to the reputation of the department, and his extensive administrative experience will help grow the academic prominence of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures.”
