Leadership in International Education: Dr. Erika Almenara Receives Hoyt Purvis Award

Dr. Erika Almenara, director of The Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies (CLCS) program, was awarded the Hoyt Purvis Award for Leadership in International Education. The award, named in honor of Dr. Hoyt Purvis, was presented at the annual banquet on Nov. 21, during International Education Week. During Purvis' career at the U of A, he displayed a continued commitment to international relations, serving as a professor of journalism and international relations, creating the Fulbright Institute of International Relations and founding the university's International Studies Program.

The award is presented to faculty and staff in recognition of their commitment to advancing the mission of mutual understanding among people of all nations on the U of A campus and in the greater community. Almenara has devoted 10 years to the U of A, contributing to international education, teaching courses related to Latin American cultural studies, exposing her undergraduate and graduate students to cultural diversity and bringing her students closer to the different dimensions of Latin American realities, broadening their horizons while deepening their understanding of cultures within political, economic and social contexts.

For Almenara, "Fostering international education means collaborating to advance Fulbright College's mission of bringing 'the world to Arkansas and Arkansas to the world' by offering our students the opportunity to meet and experience perspectives from cultures different than their own. This opportunity allows for an exchange of knowledge and understanding, enriching students' lives as they gain resources and tools that will help them succeed in the globalized, interconnected world we live in."

Recent examples of her commitment to international education include spending five months in Lima, Peru, teaching at the prestigious Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, building connections with scholars as a Fulbright Senior Scholar in 2023. In 2024, Almenara served as associate director of the Latin American and Latino Studies Program at the U of A, organizing events and talks related to contemporary political and social issues in Latin America.

Almenara continues to advance international education at the U of A by participating in the U of A Fulbright Students Association, cultural events, as an associate editor of Fulbright Chronicles and, most recently, becoming the director of CLCS in 2025. "The CLCS program is a community of international students and scholars where we explore the literatures and cultures of different nations," she said. "The participation of students and faculty from around the world lays the groundwork for innovative and critical approaches to the literatures and cultures of the world." The CLCS program, offering both an M.A. and a Ph.D., focuses on critical thinking, communication, international relations and producing innovative problem solvers. Almenara sees her role as director as a continuation of her devotion to advancing international education, accompanying and supporting students and affiliated faculty as they fulfill their goals in a program committed to international perspectives.

"Our program prepares students to perform critical analysis, engage in cross-cultural communication and develop international understanding, so they can become adaptable workers who excel in multicultural and intercultural competence," she said. "This preparation allows students to communicate complex ideas clearly and be at ease working and engaging with people in multiple cultural and linguistic contexts."

For her, winning this award "is a motivation to keep doing the work I do as an international scholar, sharing my culture and the cultures of Latin America with my students and colleagues through my classes, my articles and workshops. It is also an invitation to explore new experiences that take me outside my comfort zone, to gain knowledge to share with my students and colleagues, to expand as human beings while co-creating a better world."