Hispanic Studies

We are saddened by the passing of Professor Emeritus of Hispanic Studies Geoffrey Ribbans who died peacefully at home on March 29 at the age of 94. Born and raised in London,  Professor Ribbans graduated from King’s College, London, and he taught at Belfast, St. Andrews and Sheffield universities before being appointed Gilmour Professor of Spanish at Liverpool University in 1963. There, he was the Editor of the Bulletin of Hispanic Studies and the first Director for the Center for Latin American Studies. In 1978, he joined the Department of Hispanic Studies at Brown as the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor; he was a beloved member of the Hispanic Studies faculty from that year until his retirement in 1999. Professor Ribbans was a world-renowned scholar of Galdós, Machado and Unamuno whose work was recognized by several honors, and whose legacy will be celebrated by the Department of Hispanic Studies in the fall.