The hidden gem of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures is the internationally recognized Spanish-language journal Revista de Estudios Hispánicos. Housed at WashU since 1991, the peer-reviewed journal connects scholars across continents and has become a cornerstone of global humanities research.

That distinction sits alongside the department’s many visible strengths: illustrious alumni from the Spanish and French PhD programs who continue to secure tenure-track positions in a competitive job market, award-winning faculty, and study abroad programs that allow students to practice French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish around the world. Even the department’s cozy home above the iconic red granite and limestone arches of Ridgely Hall, one of the university’s original buildings constructed in 1902, draws attention. Yet behind the scenes, Revista de Estudios Hispánicos has quietly shaped international scholarship for six decades.

Ignacio Infante, chair of the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, underscores the journal’s importance to the international field of Hispanic studies and its global reach. “Revista has made a significant contribution to the production of knowledge,” said Infante, professor of comparative literature and thought and of Spanish in romance languages and literatures. “Without journals like it, scholars would have far fewer opportunities to publish. In the humanities, journal articles often lead to books and larger research projects, making them essential to the field. Hispanic studies is a wide, multi-continental space, with work being done across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the rest of the world. Having a place where global scholarship can come together is of enormous value.”

Revista was brought to WashU from Vassar College in 1991 by Randolph Pope, Emeritus Commonwealth Professor of Spanish and comparative literature at the University of Virginia. When he left WashU, the journal stayed, with co-editors Elzbieta Sklodowska and Akiko Tsuchiya at the helm. Other faculty members who have played important roles over the years include William Acree, J. Andrew Brown, Nina Cox Davis, Ignacio Infante, Stephanie Kirk, Ignacio Sánchez Prado, and current editor Javier García Liendo. 

Peter Kastor, Samuel K. Eddy Endowed Professor, admires the teamwork and leadership that the journal showcases. “Its list of editors reads like a who’s who of intellectual and administrative leaders in WashU arts & sciences,” he said. “It’s an amazing collaborative venture by humanities faculty, and it demonstrates excellence over time and scholarly impact across the board.”

The journal is a department-wide effort, with different faculty rotating leadership and editorial roles. It also provides a training ground for graduate students to gain valuable experience in the day-to-day workings of an academic journal and to see the editorial selection process for themselves.

Journal editor, Javier García Liendo, associate professor of Spanish, said that Revista gives the department’s graduate students an excellent opportunity to broaden their career pathways through practical editorial experience.

“Getting involved in editorial work at a leading journal gives students a front‑row seat to contemporary debates and critical conversations, deepens their understanding of the field, and offers a powerful career advantage by allowing them to participate in professional service and scholarly publishing early in their academic careers,” he said.

The journal has kept pace with changing times, joining the Project Muse database in 2012 and undergoing a redesign in 2015 under editor Stephanie Kirk. Looking ahead, the department will continue its vital role in publishing cutting-edge research alongside language instruction.

Sixty years is a long time for a journal, Infante said. “The work still continues, with a collective process of sustaining it. The journal adds value to the department, to Arts & Sciences, and to the field as a whole,” he said. “The 60th volume is a great time to look back and see what we’ve done, but also to highlight the relevance of Revista for the 21st century.”