By Tevye J. Schmidt 

Dr. Gabriela Romero-Ghiretti, Department Head of Modern Languages for the College of Arts and Humanities at Lindenwood University, is active in the local Hispanic community and has been working to foster success in community engagement with multiple cultures both here and abroad.

Recently, Romero-Ghiretti has been facilitating events and activities for the Argentine Society of St. Louis along with completing her regular duties as department head and her work in running the Foreign Language Lab on campus. Her efforts are helping to form relationships and develop awareness and respect for other cultures in the Lindenwood community.

The Argentine Society of St. Louis was founded in 1991, and this year marked their 30th anniversary. The founders of the society are from Romero-Ghiretti’s hometown, in Mendoza, Argentina. “One of the founders was my mentor, and that’s how I ended up here in the US,” Romero-Ghiretti began. She explained that the society is made up of “a group of Argentine nationals who came to the US in the seventies,” adding that “most of them were medical doctors.” 

“Our medical schools are very very good in Argentina,” Romero-Ghiretti said, explaining that Barnes-Jewish Hospital was expanding during the early seventies, and representatives for the hospital went to Argentina looking to hire new doctors. This was during a time of political unrest in Argentina, and so many young Argentine doctors were happy to make the move to the United States. Once they were here and had established roots, they wanted a way to remain connected to one another and their home, and so the Argentine Society was created to foster those relationships. 

The purpose of the Argentine Society of St. Louis is “to share Argentine culture and customs with fellow Hispanic-Americans and with those inclined to learn more about the traditions of our beloved country.”  Listed on the website they have information about the charity and volunteer work that they do, including “‘Hogar San Roque,’ a home for disadvantaged children in Capitán Bermúdez, Argentina,” which they sponsor. 

Cultural exchange and appreciation are necessary for future success, as global advocacy is an important aspect of the university’s attempt to provide multicultural experiences to Lindenwood students. This is why Romero-Ghiretti's work is so vital. She is fostering engagement and awareness of global Hispanic cultures here at Lindenwood University.