DANBURY, CONN. — California Institute of Technology and University of Southern California lecturer Dr. Gloria Arjona will discuss cultures of Mexico and Latin America at 10:50 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, in Alumni Hall on the Western Connecticut State University Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The talk will take place during Hispanic Heritage Month, an American federal observance celebrating American citizens’ ancestors from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and South America, as well as the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile.

Arjona will discuss five important themes in the history of Mexico — the pre-Colombian era, the conquest, the colonial period, the revolution and globalization — as well as various themes of Latin American culture. The talk will feature a multimedia and live performance of “Los Cinco Soles de Mexico” (“The Five Suns of Mexico”). The lecture will be in English.

Arjona is a singer with two albums: “Raices: The Essence of Latin America, Volumes I and II.” She is currently working on “The Five Suns of Mexico” with indigenous language songs in Nahuatl, Purepecha and Zapotec, as well as Spanish songs. Arjona also has co-translated published works of authors Benito Perez Galdos, of Spain; Rosario Castellanos, of Mexico; and Cristina Peri-Rossi, of Uruguay.

Associate Professor of World Languages and Literature Dr. Galina Bakhtiarova invited Arjona to campus.

“The subject of Dr. Arjona’s presentation resonates with the content of the course for Spanish majors and minors, ‘Readings on the Arts in the Americas,’ that I am currently teaching,” Bakhtiarova said. “Getting to know the diverse and hybrid cultures and art of Mexico is a great experience for all students whether they are taking Spanish classes or not. And, of course, it is a great event to highlight the interest in Hispanic and indigenous cultures of the Americas during October, designated in this country as Hispanic Heritage Month.”

Arjona’s talk is sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Literature, Chapter Chi Zeta of the Hispanic Collegiate Society Sigma Delta Pi, the Western International Center and the Office of Student Affairs.

For more information, call the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs.  Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York.  Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.