ROBERT K. SITLER
Box 8423, Stetson University, DeLand, FL  32723
(386) 822-7281  rsitler@stetson.edu
http://www.stetson.edu/~rsitler/

EDUCATION 

Ph.D. in Hispanic Literature, University of Texas at Austin   1994
    “Through Ladino Eyes: Images of the Maya in the Spanish American Novel."    (dissertation)
M.A. in Spanish, Kent State University   1989
B.A. in Spanish & Latin American Studies, Kent State University   1977

PUBLICATIONS       

"2012 and the Maya World." The Mystery of 2012: Predictions, Prophecies & Possibilities. Boulder,CO: Sounds True, 2007. 89-107.
"Apocalypto wrongly portrays Mayan natives as bloodthirsty." Daytona Beach News-Journal (Dec. 24, 2006)
"The 2012 Phenomenon: New Age Appropriation of an Ancient Mayan Calendar."  Nova Religio 9.3 (Feb., 2006)
“Understanding Death in a Mayan Market.”  Community College Humanities Review  22:1  (Fall, 2001): 88-98
“El mundo maya en la novela mesoamericana: hacia una visión más íntegra.”  Literatura indígena de América.  Guatemala: Asociación B’eyb’al, 1999.  229-37 “Miguel Angel Asturias: ‘Gran Lengua’ of the Maya: A Myth That Will Not Die.”  South Eastern Latin Americanist  41:3,4 (1998): 1-8
“Gaspar Pedro González: The First Maya Novelist.” SECOLAS Annals 28 (1997): 67-72
“A Conversation with Gaspar Pedro González.” Abya Yala 10.2 Summer (1996): 22-24
“Rosario Castellanos' Oficio de tinieblas: The Maya Otherworld through Ladina Eyes.” Selected Proceedings of the 16th CHISPA. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State
   UP, 1995. 347-56
“The Presence of Jesus Christ in Lazarillo de Tormes.” Dactylus 12 (1993): 85-97
 

PAPERS


"On-line Prophecy and the Mayan 'New Dawn'."  Indigenous Peoples in Digital Cultures. University of Florida. Gainesville, 2007
"Perspectivas sobre la fecha 2012 en la cuenta larga."  Sexto Congreso de Estudios Mayas. Universidad Rafaeil Landivar. Guatemala City. 2005
“Perspectives on the 2012 Date in the Mayan Long Count.” Latin American Studies Association conference. Las Vegas  2004
 “Blue Monkeys and Native Scribes: At the Interface of American and Mayan cultures.” Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies conference. Santo Domingo,
    Dominican Republic 2004
“Healthcare in the Mexican-American Community of Northwest Volusia County, Florida.” Conference of the Southeastern Council on Latin American Studies at Duke
    University. 2003
“Understanding Death in a Mayan Market.” CCHA Regional Conference. Santa Fe, NM 2000
“Contrasting Images of Mayan Culture in the Cuchumatán Mountains.” Blue Ridge International Conference on the Humanities and the Arts. Appalachian State
   University   2000
“La literatura del mundo maya al final del baktún 13.”  Twentieth Century Cambalache conference. University of Havana. Havana, Cuba 1999
“The Changing Face of the Mayan Novel.”  Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies conference. Lafayette, LA  1999
“El mundo maya en la novela mesoamericana: hacia una visión más íntegra.” Primer Congreso Interamericano de Escritores Indígenas. Guatemala City, Guatemala
   1998
“Weaving Life’s Fabric in the Mayan Community.”  Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies conference. Savannah, GA  1998
“Miguel Angel Asturias, ‘Gran Lengua’ of the Maya: A Myth That Will Not Die.” Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies conference. San José, Costa Rica
   1997
“Todos Santos: An Update.” At the 19th National Third World Conference.  University of Nebraska-Omaha 1996
“Gaspar Pedro González: First Mayan Novelist.” Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies conference. Miami, FL 1996
“Remnants of Racism in Miguel Angel Asturias' Hombres de maíz.” 12th Mid-America Conference on Hispanic Literature. University of Colorado-Boulder 1995
“Rosario Castellanos' Oficio de tinieblas: The Maya Otherworld through Ladina Eyes.”  16th CHISPA conference. Tulane University 1995
“Teaching About Latin America.” Multicultural Education Institute. Stetson University 1995
“Popular Music in Tres tristes tigres: Sounds of a Sacred River.” Rediscovering America conference. Louisiana State University 1993
“The Hidden Presence of Jesus in El Lazarillo de Tormes.” 11th CHISPA conference. Louisiana State University 1991

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

Professor of Modern Languages. Stetson University    
   Courses on Spanish language and literatures, Maya culture, Latin American Studies, foreign language teaching methodology
Elderhostel Instructor, Stetson University       Courses on Maya culture and contemporary Mesoamerican peoples
Assistant Spanish Instructor. University of Texas at Austin    1989-94
Spanish Instructor. Concordia College,  Austin, TX    1993-94
Teaching Assistant. Kent State University   1987-89          
 

LEADERSHIP AT STETSON UNIVERSITY

Director of Latin American Studies Program
Director of Internships in Mexican-American Community & Plaza Comunitaria in Pierson
Member of the Environmental Responsibility Council 
Member of the Health and Wellness Council
Member of the Religious and Spiritual Life Council
Member of Community Service Council
Member of Ethics Committee
Director of the Discovery Program. Experiential learning course for first-year students (1998- 2000)
Member of Environmental Sciences Committee
Faculty Senator   1998-99 & current
Member of International Programs Committee   1995-97
Humanities Division Secretary 1995-96            

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Program Director & Spanish Instructor, International Studies Abroad. At the University of Guanajuato, Mexico    Summers 1991-94
Examiner. Texas Oral Proficiency Test   1994
Carpenter and construction supervisor   1978-87

AWARDS

McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching, Stetson University  2001
Service Champion Awar, Stetson University 2007Summer Grant. Stetson University 1995, 1996, 1998, 2006
Texas Excellence Teaching Award for College of Liberal Arts. University of  Texas at Austin  1994

LANGUAGES

Advanced-Plus proficiency (ACTFL scale) in Portuguese
Intermediate-Low proficiency in Mam Maya
Novice-Mid proficiency in Yukatek and Tenek Maya

RESEARCH / TRAVEL ABROAD

Director of Latin American Studies program in Guanajuato, Mexico during summer, 2007
Director of Mentored Field Experience course in Maya Belize during winter of 2004-05
Participant in Fulbright Summer Seminar in Peru/Argentina  2004
Director of Mentored Field Experience course in Maya Mexico during winter of 2000-01
Participant in N.E.H. Summer Institute “The Mayan World” in Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico. June-July, 2000.
Yearly cultural immersion in Mam Mayan community of Todos Santos Cuchumatán, Guatemala  for language study   See:
    http://www.stetson.edu/~rsitler/TodosSantos/
Extensive experience in other Native American communities of Mexico and Guatemala

MEMBERSHIPS

Latin American Studies Association
South Eastern Council on Latin American Studies
Guatemalan Scholars Network
Phi Beta Kappa
Sigma Delta Pi national Spanish honorary