News

Professor George Castellanos wins El Diario / La Prensa Spanish newspaper’s “El” Award.

10.28.2007
By Publisher: Rossana Rosado. Translation by: Walter Valero

castellanos“All Hispanics should endeavor to become cultured, erudite, and educated,” was the motto instilled by his mother and grandmother that George Castellanos now imparts on his students at Manhattanville College, where he directs the Spanish Department and the Spanish/Latin American Studies Program. 

In the latter field, Mr. Castellanos leads an interdisciplinary program of study with the aim of educating students in the Latin American region as a whole focusing on its history, politics, economics, and literature as well as its social and cultural background.  For Mr. Castellanos, one of his greatest satisfactions is to be able to debate, discuss and learn from the diversity of the Latino community with his students.

A strong supporter of bilingualism and biculturalism, Mr. Castellanos has been a tireless activist who struggles to improve the educational opportunities of young Latinos.  Serving as a consultant for the Department of Education for the State of New York is just one of the many posts that he fills to meet this end.

Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, Mr. Castellanos arrived in New York at the age of thirteen.  He is very grateful for recently celebrating his fiftieth year anniversary as a citizen of this country.

Mr. Castellanos received his Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Iona College in 1968, the same place where years later he received his Masters in School Administration and Supervision.  In 1991 he obtained a Doctorate in Spanish at the City University of New York (CUNY) after receiving a Masters in the same field.

He is author of the book “Modernismo y Modernidad en Jose Maria Rivas Groot,” which is being currently translated into English.  Also being finalized is “El Dorado: Colombian Writers in the USA, An Anthology,” which he co-authored and which highlights the contributions to poetry, fiction or the visual arts by contemporary Colombian authors and artists.

Among his other recognitions is the Felix Restrepo Excellence Award in Philology by the Colombian Academy of Language and he has also been featured in “Who’s Who in America” in various editions.

On this distinction he is very excited: “The recognition is for those to whom I have extended my hand and have triumphed.  It is they who make us proud.”

When not teaching or advocating for Latino student’s rights, Mr. Castellanos enjoys spending his free time with his wife, and three daughters, playing tennis and listening to classical music.