Ana Rodríguez-Rodríguez, PhD, knows full well the impact graduate education can have.
“I moved from Spain to the states not speaking almost any English, and that change, that move, that experience made me grow so much.” she reflects. “It might have been more intense because I was an international student, but I know for sure that the experience of going to graduate school is life changing.”
Originally from Spain, Dr. Rodríguez-Rodríguez earned her B.A. there before heading to the U.S. for graduate school in 1996. She earned her master’s degree at University of Colorado Boulder and a Ph.D. in Spanish Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Just before starting her Ph.D., she had her first child, and her second one was born while she was writing her dissertation.
Amidst multiple job offers, Dr. Rodríguez-Rodríguez came to University of Iowa just after the Iowa City flood of 2008. Sixteen years later, she’s fully content with her choice.
“My intuition told me in that campus visit that this was the right place to be,” she says.
Dr. Rodríguez-Rodríguez arrived as an assistant professor with a tenure track position before being promoted to associate professor. She was chair of College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) Faculty Assembly in 2016-2017 and president of Faculty Senate in 2022-2023, the latter of which, she says, gave her better insight into how the university functions outside of her department. She was also director of graduate studies in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese (2018-2021) and interim departmental executive officer of the Department of French and Italian (2020-2021).
Dr. Rodríguez-Rodríguez earned a second doctorate in Philology at the Universidad Complutense (Madrid, Spain) in 2021 and joined the Iowa Graduate College as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Success in July 2024. Her aspirations for the role include strengthening the network of the Directors of Graduate Studies (DGS) as well as supporting both the academic aspirations and personal wellbeing of international students.
“I want to be at the table when decisions are made about graduate students. That's why I applied for this position,” she insists. “After graduate school and the U.S. university system gave so much to me, I feel that I am in some way giving back.”
The University of Iowa has become a fixture throughout the life of Dr. Rodríguez-Rodríguez. She is joined in the Iowa City community by her son Victor (26) and daughter Helena (21). Victor graduated from the School of Law at Iowa, and Helena is currently in her third year at Iowa. Victor was recently married, and his wife, Gretta, also earned a degree as a physician assistant and currently works in Iowa City.
Favorite pastime
Rodríguez-Rodríguez enjoys traveling with her family back to Spain and around the world. She’s also an avid fan of La Liga, the top men’s professional soccer division of Spain.
Favorite film
Cinema Paradiso (1988), an Italian coming-of-age dramedy film written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore.
Favorite book
Don Quixote (1605, 1615), a Spanish two-part novel by Miguel de Cervantes, which is often considered the first modern novel.
Favorite dish to cook
Spanish omelette (aka Spanish tortilla), a traditional Spanish dish made with eggs and potatoes, which she makes for her classes at the end of the semester.
Advice for graduate students
“Don't forget what brought you here, especially during the tough times,” she insists. “You're going to be successful, but you will need some help, so don't hesitate to ask for it.”