Betsy Dahms, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Spanish
Department of English, Film, Languages, and Performing Arts College of Arts, Culture, and Scientific Inquiry

678-839-5967
edahms@westga.ed26mnpJPshEWJZh2CzLGr8uu

Cobb Hall - Room 104

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Betsy Dahms, Ph.D.

Betsy Dahms (they/them) is an Associate Professor of Spanish in the program of International Languages and Cultures and currently serves as the Spanish section coordinator. Their research focuses on Chicana Feminist literature, more specifically the life and work of Gloria Anzaldúa and gender and sexuality studies. Dahms employs the theoretical framework of gender and sexuality studies to explore gender performativity, queer theories, the intersection of queerness and spirituality and masculinities in various Latinx author's works. While they have been largely concerned with the construction of identity in all its manifestations, their areas of research have expanded into curriculum development, contemplative practices, team teaching and the co-production of knowledge. Dahms actively seeks out creative collaborations with colleagues.

Dahms teaches Latin American and U.S. Latinx Literatures in addition to Spanish language courses. They also teach the Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies course. 

  • B.A., Spanish, Centre College, 2003
  • M.A., Hispanic Studies, University of Kentucky, 2009
  • Ph.D., Hispanic Studies, University of Kentucky, 2012
  • Certificate, Women's and Gender Studies, University of Kentucky, 2012

Spring 2023 Sections

Fall 2022 Sections

Summer 2022 Sections

Spring 2022 Sections

Fall 2021 Sections

Summer 2021 Sections

Spring 2021 Sections

Fall 2020 Sections

Summer 2020 Sections

  • SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 1DG
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: E01

Spring 2020 Sections

  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 01
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 02
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 51G
  • SPAN-3030 (Intro to Hispanic Literature) Section: 01
  • SPAN-4785 (Latinx Carrollton) Section: 02

Fall 2019 Sections

  • SPAN-1002 (Elementary Spanish II) Section: 06
  • SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 51G
  • SPAN-3102 (Spanish Composition) Section: 01W
  • SPAN-3102 (Spanish Composition) Section: 02W

Summer 2019 Sections

  • SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 04G
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: E01
  • SPAN-3101 (Spanish Conversation) Section: 01S
  • SPAN-3102 (Spanish Composition) Section: 01S
  • SPAN-4785 (Contemporary Costa Rica) Section: 01S

Spring 2019 Sections

  • SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 03
  • SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 05
  • SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 51G
  • SPAN-4785 (Perspectives on Immigration) Section: 01

Fall 2018 Sections

  • SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 04G

Summer 2018 Sections

  • SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 03G
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: E01

Spring 2018 Sections

  • SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 08
  • SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 10
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 03G
  • SPAN-4205 (Hispanic Lit & Cult in Context) Section: 01

Fall 2017 Sections

  • XIDS-2002 (WDYKA Foreign Languages) Section: LUC
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 01
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 02
  • XIDS-2100 (WDYKA: Foreign Languages) Section: 09
  • SPAN-3030 (Intro to Hispanic Literature) Section: 02

Summer 2017 Sections

  • SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 01S
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 01S
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 02
  • SPAN-3101 (Spanish Conversation) Section: 01S
  • SPAN-3102 (Spanish Composition) Section: 01S
  • SPAN-4785 (Cien años de soledad) Section: 02S

Spring 2017 Sections

  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 01
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 02
  • SPAN-3030 (Intro to Hispanic Literature) Section: 01

Fall 2016 Sections

  • SPAN-1002 (Elementary Spanish II) Section: 01
  • UWG-1101 (First Year Univ. Experience) Section: 09
  • SPAN-4785 (Translating the Other) Section: 01

Summer 2016 Sections

  • SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 02
  • FORL-4501 (Found of Language Development) Section: E01

Spring 2016 Sections

  • SPAN-1001C (Elementary Spanish I - Block) Section: 01
  • SPAN-1002C (Elementary Spanish II - Block) Section: 01
  • SPAN-3102 (Spanish Composition) Section: 01W

Fall 2015 Sections

  • UWG-1101 (First Year Univ. Experience) Section: 10
  • SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 03
  • SPAN-3030 (Intro to Hispanic Literature) Section: 01
  • SPAN-3030 (Intro to Hispanic Literature) Section: 02
  • SPAN-4484 (Senior Capstone) Section: 01

Summer 2015 Sections

  • SPAN-2001 (Intermediate Spanish I) Section: 01S
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 01S
  • SPAN-2002 (Intermediate Spanish II) Section: 02
  • SPAN-3101 (Spanish Conversation) Section: 01S
  • SPAN-3102 (Spanish Composition) Section: 01S
  • SPAN-4785 (Special Topics in Spanish) Section: 01S

Spring 2015 Sections

  • SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 05
  • SPAN-1001 (Elementary Spanish I) Section: 06
  • SPAN-4013 (Latin- Amer Culture & Civiliz) Section: 01
  • SPAN-4484 (Senior Capstone) Section: 01

Dahms, Betsy. Ana Zapata-Calle, Angélica Lozano-Alonso and Bryan Pearce-Gonzales.“Incorporating Latinx Studies in the Spanish Major: A Case Study.” MIFLC Review: Journal of the Mountain Interstate Foreign Language Conference. 21 (2022).

Dahms, Betsy. “Imaginar un hogar: desplazamiento psicológico y su relación con la imaginación en tres obras de Gloria Anzaldúa.” Hispan@s en el mundo: Emoción y desplazamiento.Eds. Verena Dolle,Danae Gallo Gonzálezand Mirjam Leuzinger. De Gruyter

Dahms, Betsy. “Formalizing Fluidity: Queer Second Person Narration and the Posthumanistic Turn in Anzaldúa’s Later Writing.” Label Me Latina/o: Journal of Twentieth and Twenty-first Latino Literary Production. Eds.Michele Shauland Kathryn Quin-

Cormican, Muriel, Betsy Dahms, and Robert Kilpatrick. “Embracing Disciplinary Trouble: Silos Identity, and Shared Intellectual Endeavor.” Feminist German Studies 36.1. Eds. HesterBaer and Alexandra M. Hill. U of Nebraska P, (2020). 24-39.

Dahms, Betsy. “Anzaldúa, Gloria.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Literature. Oxford University Press. Article published November 2019. [View Publication External Resource]

Dahms, Betsy, with AnaLouise Keating and Kelli Zaytoun."Working with Anzaldúa’s Writing Notas: An Archival Experiment in Three Parts." El Mundo Zurdo 5. Eds. Domino Perez, Larissa Mercado-López and Sonia Saldívar-Hull. San Francisco: Aunt Lute P, 2016

Dahms, Betsy."Queering Citizenship: UndocuQueer and Immigration Reform." Diálogo: An Interdisciplinary Studies Journal Published by the Center for Latino Research at DePaul University. 18.2 (2015): 79-90.

Dahms, Betsy. “Compulsory Heterosexuality in Gloria Anzaldúa’s ‘El Paisano is a bird of good omen.’” El Mundo Zurdo 3: Selected Works from the 2011 Meeting of the Society for the Study of Gloria Anzaldúa. Eds. Antonia Castañeda, Sonia Saldíva

Dahms, Betsy.“Shamanic Urgency and Two-way Movement as Writing Style in the Works of Gloria Anzaldúa.” Letras Femeninas. 38.2 (2012): 9-27.

Dahms, Betsy.“Es mucho hombre esta mujer: Una lectura Queer de Teresa en Sab.” Retomando la palabra: las pioneras del diecinueve en diálogo con la crítica contemporánea. Eds. Claire Martin and Nelly Goswitz. Madrid: Iberoamericana/Vervuert, 2012.165

Dahms, Betsy. “Self-destructive embodiment of the “Joto Body” in Rigoberto González’s ‘The Abortionist’s Lover.’” Divergencias: Revista de estudios lingüísticos y literarios. 9.2(2011): 16-24.*

Dahms, Betsy.“Staging Gender Trouble: Sabina Berman’s ‘The Mustache’” DisClosure, the University of Kentucky’s Social Theory Journal. (2011): 62-71.*

Dahms, Betsy. "Pussy for Life: Adherence and Deviance from the Dominican Masculine Code in Junot Díaz's Drown." MIFLC Review: Journal of the Mountain Interstate Foreign Language Conference. 14 (Fall 2007-08). 75-90.*

Daniels, Mary B. and Elizabeth Dahms. “A Case Study of Community-Based Learning: Centre College in Danville, Kentucky” ADFL Association of Departments of Foreign Languages. 2,3 (Winter/Spring 2008): 61-65.*