Dr. Ryan Szpiech

Biography

Ryan Szpiech is an Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Michigan. He received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 2006. His scholarly work focuses on the cultures and literatures of medieval Iberia, particularly on cultural interaction and exchange among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Szpiech's research delves into the concept of translation, encompassing languages, alphabets, and ideas, as a tool for understanding these interrelations. He has published extensively on religious conversion narratives during the 12th to 15th centuries. His selected publications include works on the medieval exegesis and interreligious encounters in Iberia. He has co-edited volumes analyzing medieval polemics involving Christians, Jews, and Muslims, further exploring the themes of cultural and religious interactions. Currently, he is engaged in projects examining polemics in sixteenth-century Spain and the translation discourses during the reign of Alfonso X. Szpiech actively participates in various research groups focused on medieval studies and transcultural relations. His teaching spans both undergraduate and graduate courses on medieval Iberian literatures, conversion narratives, and cultural dialogues across religious traditions.

Research Interests

Experience