FSEM 115   Mexico

Faculty Profile for Professor Newman

Beyond stereotypes, what do we know about Mexico? In this class, we’ll ask what the 130 million people living in Mexico share in common, and what makes Mexican society so diverse, unequal, and fascinating. We start by getting our bearings with Mexico’s history, geography, and cultural diversity. Then we dive into three units on different regions: Chiapas, Michoacán, and Mexico City. We talk about Indigenous peoples, Catholicism, migration, and big events like revolutions and uprisings. At the end of the class, you’ll present your independent research. You might dig into the real story of something iconic like narcos, mariachis, tacos, or tequila. You can also explore lesser-known but important topics like Afro-Mexican communities, cultural resistance from Indigenous Mexicans, or student activism in Mexican universities, to name only a few ideas! Together, you’ll build knowledge and teach each other that there are, in fact, many Mexicos. And along the way, we’ll watch films, listen to music, and try some of the best Mexican food in Central NY. Students who successfully complete this seminar receive credit for CORE C171 and satisfy the Core Communities requirement.

Professor Newman is a historian of Mexico and Latin America, and she writes and teaches about inequality, migration, and families. Along with her husband Paco, kids Emilio and Jaime, and cat Canelo, she is excited to welcome you to Colgate and build community together!