By Venus Parmisana

The English Department welcomes back Nelia Gayoso Balgoa who, having recently received a doctor’s degree abroad, strengthens the department’s already formidable teaching force.

Nel (as she is fondly called by friends) received a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Sciences degree majoring in Area Studies from the Osaka University in Japan. The same university also awarded her a Master of Arts degree in Language and Culture in 2002.

Nel voluntarily went on study leave without pay for two years to earn her doctorate degree.

In Japan, she read papers the latest of which was “Body Modification: The Negotiating of Identity of Filipino Migrants in Japan”which she presented last September 2010 at the Sixth International Gender and Language Conference in Tsuda College in Tokyo.

The same paper was previously delivered at the GLOCOL Bangkok Seminar Series at Osaka University in March 2010 and at the 12th Annual Conference of Anthropology of Japan in the Temple University in November 2009.

Nel teaches in the undergraduate and graduate programs in the Department where her expertise in Language and Gender will be well sought for. She expects her appointment as Full Professor having served the Institute since October 2004.

Topics : research