Spanish Prof. Aarón Lacayo makes a difference each day in his students’ lives, bringing energy and enthusiasm to his classes. As a professor of Spanish and Latin American studies, he supports underrepresented students in the undergraduate classroom. He hopes his teaching helps students develop a well-rounded education, thoroughly diving into the interwoven culture and art that he researches.
“The study of languages, literature, and film is intimately linked to a liberal arts education and to a small liberal arts college like Gettysburg,” said Lacayo, who values sharing meaningful discourse in the classroom and has mentored students across many disciplines. “I really enjoy talking with my students and the different ways in which they share with me in the classroom—the stories of their lives, their perspectives on current events, and the critical insights they bring to our discussions.”
In addition to teaching, Lacayo is a published author of various works, primarily focusing on Latin American literature, culture, cinema, and literary translation. His current book-length project is titled “Unaccompanied Cinema: Ecologies of Violence in Contemporary Central American Film.” He also has published scholarly articles in Comparative Literature Studies, Teaching Central American Literature in a Global Context, and Ecocinema Theory & Practice 2.
Lacayo is also active as a literary translator and has published two book-length translations, Gordon Matta-Clark’s visual poetry, “Art Cards/Fichas de arte” and Claudia Hernández’s Salvadorean novella, “La han despedido de nuevo (They Have Fired Her Again).”
Lacayo divides his time between Gettysburg and New York City, where he resides, and enjoys the contrast between small town and urban city life.
“I enjoy what both Gettysburg and New York City have to offer in different ways,” he said. “I’ll never get tired of a good and exhilarating run through the battlefield at dusk.”
He also travels around the world with his partner, connecting with new places on the West Coast of the United States, Europe, Central America, and more. In his free time, Lacayo enjoys cinema and theater, as well as reading short stories, poetry, and trying new restaurants.
By Ainsley Green ’27
Photo by Shawna Sherrell
Posted: 04/08/25