Puerto Rico
Dr. J. L. Torres
Episode 37: Studying Humanities Can Also Lead to Stable Careers
Meet Dr. Jose Luis Torres, a writer and Professor Emeritus of English at SUNY Plattsburgh, who explains how studying humanities can also lead to stable careers.
Dr. Torres… also known by his pen name J.L. Torres, is a Puerto Rican author and scholar born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York. He tells us his life story, beginning with his experience growing up in the South Bronx, then moving to Puerto Rico as a young adult, and returning to the continental U.S. to pursue his career as a college professor.
J.L. Torres helped us dismantle the myth that those who study humanities will face an uncertain financial future, and shares facts about the multiple CEOs of Fortune 500 companies who studied degrees like English and Philosophy.
Given his vast experience teaching American and Latinx Literature and Creative Writing, as well as his formal education, we couldn’t pass on the opportunity to discuss the term LATINX, its purpose, and the strong reactions it provokes in many people.
We also discussed his recent book Migrations, his upcoming novel about the life of Puerto Rican icon Roberto Clemente, and how he chooses to discuss difficult topics in his literary works that the Latinx community often prefers to avoid.
Check out J.L. Torres' blog: Why Latinx?
Puerto Rico