College of Arts and Sciences appoints new chairs

The Western Michigan University College of Arts and Sciences has named two faculty members to chair positions, according to an announcement from Dean Carla Koretsky.

Mercedes Tasende will serve as chair of the Department of Spanish. Additionally, Kevin J. Wanner will serve as acting chair of the Department of Comparative Religion for one academic year.

“I am delighted to have Dr. Tasende and Dr. Wanner fulfill these important leadership roles within the college,” Koretsky said. “Their talent, drive and dedication to our students and faculty are sure to bring continued success in these departments.”

DR. MERCEDES TASENDE

Dr. Mercedes Tasende, professor of Spanish, joined the WMU faculty in 1991. She specializes in early 20th century Spanish literature and is currently conducting research on the literature of the Spanish Civil War.

Tasende has authored a book on the works of Valle-Inclán, Palimpsesto y subversión: Un estudio Intertextual de El ruedo ibérico, and numerous scholarly articles on Emilia Pardo Bazán, Miguel de Unamuno, Ramón del Valle-Inclán, Ramón Gómez de la Serna, Manuel Rivas, and Carlota O’Neill, among other writers.

In addition to her role as professor, since 2004 Tasende has served the department as faculty director of the undergraduate study abroad programs in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2015-16), and Santander, Spain (2004-06, 2015-17), the WMU faculty and staff study abroad program in Santander (2012-13) and Quito, Ecuador (2014-15), and the graduate study abroad program in Santander (2013-14). She was interim chair of the department from 2006-07 and chair from 2007-11.

In 2013, she was the recipient of the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Achievement Award in Global Engagement.

DR. KEVIN J. WANNER

Dr. Kevin J. Wanner, professor of comparative religion, has been with WMU since 2004 and has served as undergraduate advisor for the department since 2005. He focuses on teaching and researching Old Norse myth and religion, aspects of medieval Christianity and theory, and method in the study of religion.

Wanner has authored many articles and book chapters, including “‘Háttatal’ Stanza 12 and the Divine Legitimation of Kings” and “Strategies of Skaldic Poets for Producing, Protecting, and Profiting from Capitals of Cognition and Recognition.” His book Snorri Sturluson and the “Edda”: The Conversion of Cultural Capital in Medieval Scandinavia was published by University of Toronto Press. He earned a doctorate in the history of religions from the University of Chicago in 2003.

For more information about the WMU College of Arts and Sciences, visit wmich.edu/arts-sciences.