Hannah Grace “HG” Morrison joined the Modern Languages and Literatures department in 2025 as a visiting assistant professor of Spanish. Morrison’s scholarship critically engages with Latin American literature and culture studies, popular culture, queer performance studies, woman, gender and sexuality studies, and media studies. They analyze lucha libre as a performance for exploration and new imaginaries for queer communities in Mexico City. They specifically study gender performance of the wrestlers known as los exóticos in lucha libre mexicana, wrestling in Mexican drag reality TV, and queered wrestling in Mexican visual arts. Performance art, painting, and poetry are also practices that are a part of their critical work. They have been a core member of the performance activist group based in Columbus known as the Taco Reparations Brigade since 2022.

Areas of Expertise

Latin American popular culture, women, gender, and sexuality studies, queer and cuir studies, performance studies

Education

2025 — Doctor of Philosophy from The Ohio State University

2018 — Master of Arts from Ohio University

2015 — Bachelor of Arts from Asbury College, cum laude

Courses Recently Taught

This first half of a yearlong course is focused on the self in a broader social context for students who are beginning the study of Spanish or have had minimal exposure to the language. The course offers the equivalent of conventional beginning and intermediate language study. The first semester's work comprises an introduction to Spanish as a spoken and written language. The work includes practice in understanding and using the spoken language. Written exercises and reading materials serve to reinforce communicative skills, build vocabulary and enhance discussion of the individual and community. This course includes required practice sessions with a teaching assistant, which are scheduled at the beginning of the semester. Students enrolled in this course are automatically added to SPAN 112Y for the spring semester. No prerequisite. Offered every year.

This second half of a yearlong course is a continuation of SPAN 111Y. The second semester consists of continued study of the fundamentals of Spanish, while incorporating literary and cultural materials to develop techniques of reading, cultural awareness and mastery of the spoken and written language. The work includes practice in understanding and using the spoken language. Written exercises and reading materials serve to reinforce communicative skills, build vocabulary and enhance discussion of the individual and community. This course includes required practice sessions with a teaching assistant, which are scheduled at the beginning of the semester. Prerequisite: SPAN 111Y or equivalent. Offered every year.

One of the features of the most exciting and innovative Spanish American literature is that it seeks to speak directly through and with popular culture. This course focuses precisely on this relationship. Topics that may be covered include graphic novels and comics, different musical genres (son, tango, Nueva Canción, salsa) the visual arts, television and film. Select media are a significant part of class materials. The course is recommended for Spanish and international studies majors. Prerequisite: SPAN 321 or equivalent. Generally offered every three years.