FACULTY SPOTLIGHT Encouraging the G RUBÉN VARONA, PH.D. ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SPANISH AND CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT rowing up in Colombia during Pablo Escobar’s fight against the state to avoid extradition, Rubén Varona, Ph.D., was caught between two worlds: one defined by the cruelty of violence that shaped daily life, and another filled with extraordinary, untold stories. Reading was his escape from this chaos, while writing became his way to exist. “The real turning point came during my MFA in creative writing at the University of Texas at El Paso,” Varona says. “Living on the U.S.-Mexico border, I learned that a border is more than a line on a map — it’s a place rich with contradictions, where identity, memory, and belonging constantly intersect. Writing helped me process these fractured worlds and connect deeply with universal human experiences. Later, I realized writing was a bridge built on the wounds of the past and the possibilities of healing.” At Lycoming, Varona carries those lessons into his classroom. Teaching both Spanish and Latin American literature allows him to rediscover the power of stories alongside his students. “Their curiosity and eagerness to see the world differently push me to keep challenging myself, both as a teacher and a writer.” “Writing is my passion, and I dedicate myself to every word, aiming to craft narratives that resonate with readers,” he says. “My books encourage readers to engage in thoughtprovoking discussions. While they are meant to entertain, they also aspire to leave behind lasting questions and meaningful conversations that continue well after the final page.” Varona has published a collection of poems, “Polvo de cordillera” (2024), and the novels “La viuda del molino” (2023), “La secta de los asesinos” (2016), “La hora del cheesecake” (2015), “El sastre de las sombras” (2013), and “Espérame desnuda entre los alacranes” (2007). He is currently working on a historical noir novel inspired by historical figure Joaquín Mosquera y Figueroa. What is your preferred writing style, and what do you like to write about? I’m drawn to historical noir, a genre that uncovers the darker, often overlooked aspects of history. My novels blend crime with historical events, pulling from my own experiences to craft stories where personal struggles intersect with critical historical moments. What excites me most is its ability to explore themes of justice, identity, and memory. It’s not about solving mysteries; it’s about uncovering truths, especially those that history has silenced. Writing in this genre connects my academic work with my creative interests. It feels like digging through the past to give a voice to those who were ignored and create stories that resonate with our present. So, for me, historical noir isn’t just a writing style; it’s a way of asking hard questions about who we are and how we got here. “glocal” thinker 24 LYCOMING COLLEGE 2025 SPRING MAGAZINE
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