Steven Byrd, Associate Professor of Spanish and Portuguese
I think that UNE has a nice balance of teaching, research, and service. It’s not a university of professors solely doing research and distracted from the classroom. We have a culture, especially in the tenure ranks, of trying to maintain the balance between being a good teacher and being there for our students as well as working on our research and partaking in service activities.
I received a faculty mini-grant from ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ to do research on the culinary culture of the Brazilian northeast. For me, it’s the second article in a series of articles. The first article that I wrote was about another state in the southwest of Brazil. Now, I’m looking at the northeast of Brazil because it is an area with a lot of traditional dishes, especially things related to beef. For my research, I spent a month in the city of Hasifi in Brazil this past summer. Hasifi is in the state of Pernambuco, which is where the original sugar plantations began. There are a lot of cattle in the area. There is also a rich tradition of seafood from fisherman, which makes sense because Hasifi is located right on the coast. All of these aspects of the cuisine there were part of my research.
³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Students
I've taught students at the University of Texas, and I've taught students at the ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ, and I will take the students at the ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ ten times out of ten. I really like the students’ demeanor here. They have a particular curiosity and the attitude of a student — they are excited and eager to learn. There is a sense of humility that allows them to be open-minded. They genuinely put effort into assignments and care to turn in their best work. They trust the faculty, and I appreciate their sense of willingness.
I love working with students outside the classroom. I’ve been the advisor for the drama club, ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ Players, for two years now. It comes with its own unique set of challenges, but I love the students’ idealism and energy. They are inspiring. They want to make plays happen no matter the obstacles. I like helping the students and watching them grow through these experiences. It feels rewarding.