Education
UOG hosts roundtable dialogue on history and perspectives in Micronesia since the Spanish-American War Aug. 26
Stars and Stripes
August 23, 2024
(Top left) Dr. Robert A. Underwood, President Emeritus, University of Guam, Member, Kumision i Fino CHamoru, (Top right) Dr. Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga Rector, Universitat Abat Oliba CEU, President, Spanish Association for Pacific Studies, (Bottom left) Dr. Monique Storie Dean of University Libraries, University of Guam, (Bottom right) Dr. Monique Storie Dean of University Libraries, University of Guam (University of Guam)
The Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center (MARC) and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Guam is pleased to announce a roundtable discussion titled “1898 and Beyond: History and Memory in Micronesia” to be held at 5 p.m. on Monday, August 26, 2024, at the CLASS Lecture Hall on the UOG campus.
This event will bring together two respected scholars, Robert A. Underwood, former Member of the U.S. Congress and UOG President Emeritus, and special guest Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga, President of the University Abat Oliba CEU of Barcelona, Spain and expert in the CHamoru language. The conversation will explore the ongoing impact of historical events and how our contemporary perspectives shape our understanding of the past.
In 1998, Guam and Spain commemorated the centennial of the U.S. Navy’s takeover of Guam at the end of the Spanish-American War and the subsequent change of sovereignty over the remaining Spanish territories in Micronesia. This pivotal moment in history continues to resonate today, influencing both present-day narratives and collective memory.
The roundtable, moderated by Dr. Carlos Madrid, Director of Research at MARC, and introduced by Dr. Monique C. Storie, Dean of University Libraries, promises to be an engaging and insightful discussion. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage with two prominent figures who played key roles in the 1998 commemoration, as they reflect on how history, memory, and politics intersect in the context of Micronesia.
The public is invited to participate in a meaningful dialogue that delves into the complexities of historical memory and its influence on contemporary society.
Event flyer (University of Guam)
About the Speakers
Dr. Rafael Rodríguez-Ponga, Rector of Universitat Abat Oliba CEU in Barcelona, Spain, and President of the Spanish Association for Pacific Studies (AEEP). Dr. Rodríguez-Ponga, holding a PhD in Linguistics, has conducted extensive research on CHamoru and other languages and cultures in the Pacific since his first visit to Guam and the CNMI in 1985.
Dr, Robert A. Underwood, former Member of the U.S. Congress, President Emeritus of the University of Guam, and a member of the Kumision i Fino’ CHamoru. Underwood is a distinguished scholar with numerous publications on education, regional political issues, indigenous concerns, and cultural change in Guam.
About the Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center
The Richard F. Taitano Micronesian Area Research Center at the University of Guam is dedicated to the study, preservation, and promotion of the unique cultural heritage and history of the Micronesian region. MARC is committed to fostering scholarly research and community engagement through its various programs and events.